Bucknell Women's Water Polo Goes 1-1 in Two CWPA Games on Saturday

Saturday, April 2

Princeton, N.J.

10:30 a.m.

Bucknell University

Mount St. Mary's (Md.)

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

Bucknell Women's Water Polo Goes 1-1 in Two CWPA Games on Saturday

4/2/2022 5:38:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Bucknell University women's water polo team went 1-1 in the penultimate weekend of the regular season in two CWPA contests on Saturday. The Bison defeated Mount St. Mary's in the opening fixture, 7-4, before falling to Michigan in the afternoon contest, 14-7.

Game One Bucknell 7, Mount St. Mary's 4.

The Bison defense held its opponent to a season low in goals in taking a 7-4 win in the first game of the day. Bucknell was bolstered by a hat trick from senior Larissa Hodzic, taking a 4-0 lead early on in the game.

Four different goalscorers found the back of the cage for the Bison in the opening minutes in a strong start, as Paige Furano, Chloe Smith, Bella Moynihan, and Hodzic each scored. Bucknell's defense was key to its quick start, as the Bison kept The Mount off the board until the 5:20 mark of the second quarter. Hodzic added one more goal with 2:12 left in the second quarter as Bucknell took a 5-1 lead at the halftime break.

The Mount gained some momentum in the third, outscoring the Bison 2-1. However, Hodzic's final goal of the day at the 1:37 mark of the third ensure a three-goal advantage, 6-3, going into the fourth.

MSM made things interesting in the fourth, cutting the game to two with 2:46 remaining, 6-4. However, Emma Molaski sealed the win with a late goal with 35 seconds left to help Bucknell secure its second win of the season over The Mount.

Hodzic's three goals tie her season best, while first-year Annika Lampen made eight saves in the cage in a staunch defensive effort by the Bison. The four goals allowed were the fewest by the program since a 20-3 win by the Bison over MSM on April 17, 2021.

Goals: L.Hodzic (3), P.Furano, C.Smith, B.Moynihan, E.Molaski
Assists: Monaghan (3), LaCroix (2), Moynihan, Furano
Steals: Moynihan (2), Furano (2), Lippolis, Monaghan
Ejections Drawn: Hodzic (6), Furano (2), LaCroix
Saves: Lampen 8 saves, 32:00 minutes

Game Two: Michigan 14, Bucknell 7.

The Bison couldn't overcome a quick start by the Wolverines, who took a 4-1 lead after the first quarter and never led by less than three the rest of the way in a 14-7 win. Smith got the Bison on the board after Michigan opened the game on a 3-0 run, but the Wolverines' Sophie Tovani answered with a goal just a few minutes later as Michigan secured a 4-1 lead after one.

Caroline Oates found Bucknell's next goal in the second period on an assist from Isabelle Monaghan to cut the Michigan lead to 5-2, but two unanswered goals gave the Wolverines a 7-2 advantage at the halftime break.

Monaghan completed her hat trick in the second half in scoring all three of her goals in that time span, while Smith and Molaski each found the back of the cage in the latter half as Michigan maintained a steady lead in its 14-7 victory. Sam Gove minded the cage for the Bison in the second game, making five saves and adding two steals.

Goals: I.Monaghan (3), C.Smith (2), C.Oates, E.Molaski
Assists: Moynihan, Monaghan, Motau, Smith, Oates
Steals: Furano (5), Monaghan (2), Gove (2), Hodzic, Smith, LaCroix,
Ejections Drawn: Furano (5), Smith, Lippolis, Moynihan
Saves: Gove 5 saves, 32:00 minutes

Bucknell closes its regular season next weekend with two road games against Harvard and Brown before hosting the CWPA Championships on April 22-24.