Bucknell Women's Water Polo Splits Second Day of Aztec Invite

Sunday, March 13

San Diego, Calif.

12 p.m. (ET)

Bucknell University

UC San Diego

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

Bucknell Women's Water Polo Splits Second Day of Aztec Invite

3/13/2022 6:30:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

SAN DIEGO – The Bucknell University women's water polo team went 1-1 on the second day of the Aztec Invite, falling to UC San Diego 14-3 before rebounding with a 9-7 win over Austin College in the afternoon matchup. The win over the Kangaroos snapped a six-game losing streak for the Bison.

Game One: UCSD 14, Bucknell 3

UCSD jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game of the day, taking control early on. Bucknell battled back by scoring two goals in the second, but the Tritons added three more goals in the second quarter to take a commanding 8-2 lead at the half.

Chloe Smith scored Bucknell's other goal in the second half, but the Tritons added six more goals in the second half to take a convincing 14-3 win over Bucknell. Paige Furano and Larissa Hodzic scored Bucknell's first half goals, while Annika Lampen made two saves in the defeat.

Goals: Furano, Hodzic, Smith
Steals: Furano, Jackson, Hodzic
Saves: Lampen 2 saves, 32:00 minutes

Game Two: Bucknell 9, Austin College 7

Bucknell led in this one early, taking a 2-1 lead after one quarter against the Kangaroos in the second game of the day. Smith opened Bucknell's scoring at the 6:36 mark of the first quarter, taking advantage of a powerplay opportunity, before the Kangaroos responded with a goal from Brooke Le just over a minute later at the 5:17 mark of the first.

Smith was on hand once more to break the tie, scoring with 3:12 to go to give Bucknell a 2-1 lead. Goals from Paige Furano and Larissa Hodzic in the second period extended Bucknell's lead to 4-1 in the second, but two unanswered goals from Austin College brought the Kangaroos right back into the game, 4-3, at the half.

Smith netted her hat trick just 40 seconds into the second half to give Bucknell another two-goal cushion, but the Kangaroos battled back once more, scoring two unanswered goals just over a minute apart in the third to tie the game at five.

Bucknell took control of the game in the final three minutes of the third, scoring three unanswered goals during that time span. Emma Molaski started the proceedings with a goal at the 3:07 mark, before Smith added her fourth of the day, a new career high, with 1:49 to go. Bella Moynihan added Bucknell's third with 28 seconds left to gain a three-goal edge, but the Kangaroos pulled one back right as the horn sounded to keep the game within two, 8-6.

The two teams tightened up defensively in the fourth, scoring just one goal each. Molaski was on hand for her second goal of the day with one minute remaining to ice the game and give Bucknell a 9-6 lead, and Bucknell held the Kanagroos scoreless until a late consolation goal in the final 43 seconds in taking the two-goal win.

Lampen was huge for the Bison in goal in the second game, compiling a career-best 15 saves in the cage for a save percentage of .682. The four goals for Smith were also a career best.

Bucknell will have several days off before traveling to La Verne on Wednesday, March 16 before facing Long Beach State on Thursday, March 17 to close its California trip.

Goals: C.Smith (4), E.Molaski (2), P.Furano, L.Hodzic, B.Moynihan
Assists: Motau
Saves: Lampen 15 saves, 7 GA, 32:00 minutes