Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Iona
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Drops Two Sunday Games
3/6/2022 3:06:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 25 Bucknell University women's water polo team dropped a pair of contests on Sunday afternoon as it closed the Michigan Invite. The Bison fell to Iona in the first contest, 9-8, before dropping a 17-9 decision to Salem in the afternoon.
Game One: Iona 9, Bucknell 8
The Gaels scored the game-winning goal at the 1:05 mark to take a 9-8 win over the Bison on Sunday morning. Bucknell had one chance to tie at the end of the game after a timeout, but couldn't convert as the Gaels avenged an earlier loss to the Bison this season.
The Bison started slowly, not finding the back of the cage until the 3:46 mark of the second quarter to cut into a 2-0 Iona lead courtesy of Paige Furano. Furano tied the game just 30 seconds later as the Bison began to find their offensive groove, with Chloe Smith putting Bucknell ahead at the half with a goal at the 2:32 mark of the second, 3-2.
The Gaels used a strong third quarter, outscoring the Bison 5-2 in the period, to take a 7-5 lead. However, Bucknell fought back in the fourth, opening the period with two goals from Megan LaCroix just over a minute apart to tie the game with 5:56 to go.
Furano was on hand to deliver Bucknell's first lead since the half when she scored with 4:15 remaining to put Bucknell ahead 8-7. The Gaels, however, scored the tying goal just 30 seconds later, before taking the lead for good on a goal by Laura Rockett with 1:05 remaining out of a timeout. Both LaCroix and Isabelle Monaghan had looks at the goal to tie, but the Bison couldn't capitalize as they fell to Iona by a one-goal margin.
Furano netted four times in the defeat, while LaCroix added two goals. Annika Lampen made eight saves in the cage.
Goals: P.Furano (4), M.Lacroix (2), C.Smith, B.Motau
Game Two: Salem 17, Bucknell 9
A 4-0 second quarter by the Tigers helped Salem pull away for its first win over Bucknell since 2000 on Sunday. Bucknell scored five goals in the third, but the Tigers used an 11-goal second half to take the 17-9 win in Bucknell's final game of the weekend.
Bucknell led after the first eight minutes of the game, 3-2, after goals from Megan LaCroix and Chloe Smith to start the game. The Bison, however, were held scoreless for over eight minutes, not finding the back of the cage until the 6:24 mark of the third quarter on Paige Furano's goal as Salem scored five unanswered goals during that time span to lead 7-4.
Bucknell pulled within two, 9-7, with 3:04 left in the third on a goal by Furano, but Salem scored three of the next four goals to end the period to take a 12-8 lead with eight minutes remaining before pulling away in the fourth for a 17-9 win.
Furano scored four goals for the second straight game, while Lampen and Sam Gove split time in goal. LaCroix added three goals in the defeat.
Goals: P.Furano (4), M.Lacroix (3), C.Smith (2)
The Bison will head to California for their next five contests, beginning with a trip to San Diego for the Aztec Invite hosted by San Diego State on March 12-13.
