Bucknell University
La Salle
No. 24 Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens 2022 Slate with Pair of Home Wins
1/29/2022 10:42:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The No. 24 Bucknell University women's water polo team started off its 2022 campaign with a one-goal win over La Salle on Saturday morning to kick off the Bucknell Invite. In the afternoon contest, the Bison prevailed by a 12-10 score against St. Francis Brooklyn in starting 2-0 on the year.
A close game throughout, Larissa Hodzic netted the eventual game-winning goal with 1:06 left to gain a two-goal advantage and propel the Bison to a win over the Explorers.
It was a low-scoring first period, with La Salle taking an early advantage, 2-0 after the first quarter. Bucknell halved the deficit to open the second quarter as first-year Izzy Lippolis opened her Bucknell account by scoring her first career goal at the 7:34 mark.
The second quarter proved eventful, as both teams combined to score nine goals in the period, six of those by the Bison. Paige Furano, Isabelle Monaghan, and Hodzic each scored in the frame. Hodzic put an exclamation mark on the second period with two goals in the final minute, the latter with 12 seconds to go, as Bucknell took the lead for the first time in the game, 6-5, at the halftime break.
La Salle's Kali Hyham, an ACWPC Honorable Mention All-American during four-year career in the Orange and Blue before graduating, opened the scoring for the Explorers to tie the game at six once more in the third. However, goals from Megan LaCroix and a deflected goal by Furano with seven seconds left in the third restored a one-goal advantage, 8-7, with one quarter to play.
La Salle tied the game for the fourth time with a goal with 5:48 remaining, but a first career goal by Ali Jackson with 2:58 to go, followed by Hodzic's goal at the 1:06 mark, gave Bucknell a two-goal cushion, 10-8. Hodzic drew an exclusion earlier in the offensive build-up for the Bison to set up the power play opportunity.
La Salle cut the lead to 10-9 with 42 seconds left, and had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but the Bison held firm as the Explorers attempted to throw the ball into the center, allowing first-year goalkeeper Annika Lampen to grab the loose ball and run out the clock.
Furano and Hodzic each scored three goals for the Bison in the victory, while Lippolis and Jackson each scored their first career goals for Bucknell. Lampen made three saves in the win.
Goals: Furano (3), Hodzic (3), LaCroix, Jackson, Monaghan
Saves: Lampen 3 saves, 32:00 Minutes
Bucknell prevailed in another close game in the afternoon, taking down the Terriers of St. Francis Brooklyn, 12-10.
Bucknell started the brighter of the two teams, taking a 4-1 lead after the first quarter. Monaghan was involved early on, scoring the first two goals from penalty shots. Chloe Smith added Bucknell's third minutes later, before Furano capped off an impressive first quarter with a deep shot to beat the buzzer that dented the twine.
Bucknell stretched that lead to 5-1 to start the second, when Hodzic deposited her shot in the upper left corner from a good position in the middle. However, the Terriers fought their way back into the game, scoring three of the next four goals to cut the Bison lead to 6-4 at the half.
St. Francis continued that momentum into the second half, pulling within one, 6-5, just 20 seconds into the third quarter. Chloe Smith found Bucknell's response just 20 seconds later to restore the two-goal cushion. The Terriers would pull within one twice more throughout the game, including cutting the Bucknell lead to 10-9 with 6:15 remaining. Bucknell yet again found a response, this one courtesy of Jackson, before an insurance goal from Monaghan with three minutes to go pushed the Bison to their second straight win to open the season.
Furano had a big afternoon for the Bison, scoring four goals in the win. Monaghan added a career-best three goals, while Jackson, Hodzic, LaCroix, and first-year Boati Motau scored in the win. The goal for Motau was the first of her career. Lampen made seven saves in the cage for the Bison in the victory.
Bucknell faces a stern test on Sunday morning to close the Bucknell Invite when it faces Wagner at 9:20 a.m.
Goals: P.Furano (4), I.Monaghan (3), A.Jackson, L.Hodzic, C.Smith, B.Motau, M.Lacroix
Saves: Lampen 7 saves, 32:00 minutes
