No. 24 Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens Princeton Invite with 10-7 Win over Iona

PRINCETON, N.J.-- The No. 24 Bucknell University women's water polo team improved to 3-1 on the season, prevailing 10-7 over Iona in its opening game of the Princeton Invite.

The Bison broke open a 6-6 tie at the start of the third, scoring four of the game's final five goals en route to their third victory by three goals or less this season.

Bucknell found itself in an early deficit in this one, trailing 2-0 just over two minutes into the contest. However, four straight goals from the Bison to end the first gave Bucknell some momentum, with Isabelle Monaghan scoring the first two goals of the run two minutes apart, before goals from Larissa Hodzic and Paige Furano in the final 1:49 of the period gave Bucknell a two-goal lead.

Just one goal was scored between the two teams in the second quarter, a goal from Iona's Jordan van Reeken at the 6:02 mark that halved Bucknell's advantage going into halftime, 4-3. Iona tied the game to start the second half at the 6:11 mark, before Furano broke the Bucknell scoreless streak with her second goal of the day at the 5:33 mark. Iona tied the game once more at five, but a big goal by Bucknell's Chloe Smith with just seven seconds on the clock in the third gave Bucknell a 6-5 lead with eight minutes to go.

Iona tied the game for the third time at six at the 7:18 mark, but Bucknell sealed the game over the next five minutes as Monaghan was on hand to score two more goals at the 6:16 and 4:24 mark, respectively, to set a new career-high with four on the day. Bella Moynihan added two late insurance goals to give Bucknell a 10-6 lead it would not relinquish in taking its opening game of the Princeton Invite.

Bucknell held its opponent to under ten goals for the second time this season, boasting five different goalscorers in the win.

The Bison return to action on Saturday for two games, opening the morning with a game against conference foe Saint Francis (Pa.) at 11 a.m. before taking on No. 21 Princeton at 7:45 p.m. Saturday's nightcap against the Tigers will be streamed on ESPN+.

Goals: Monaghan (4), Moynihan (2), Furano (2), Hodzic, Smith

No. 24 Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens Princeton Invite with 10-7 Win over Iona

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Furano

Larissa Hodzic

Isabelle Monaghan

Bella Moynihan

Chloe Smith