Water Polo Conquers in Two Sunday Matches; Increases Winning Streak to Nine Games

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell women's water polo team (9-1) defeated CWPA foes Saint Francis 10-9 and Mercyhurst 13-4 on Sunday to finish off a 4-0 the weekend at the Bucknell Invitational and increase its winning streak to nine games. The team also started 2-0 in conference competition with the results, after going 2-8 in the CWPA last year. Bucknell has now won all three weekends.

Saint Francis Recap

The contest was cast as the weekend's headliner and the event did not disappoint with the outcome not decided until the final seconds.

The Red Flash opened the scoring with a goal but Lehua Bender answered the challenge with a tally. SFU retook the lead and again the Bison tied it up when Gwen Kallmeyer deposited a score.

The Bison took its first lead (3-2) in the second quarter when Campbell Collins scored the first of her game-high three goals. Saint Francis replied with a 4-0 run. Sidney Finkler scored a crucial goal eight seconds before halftime to generate some momentum.

SFU extended its lead to 7-4 before the Bison tallied twice off goals by Olivia Hopper and Boati Motau. The Red Flash scored once more as the third quarter concluded.

The final period belonged to the Bison as the Orange & Blue outscored the Red Flash 4-1. Bucknell seized the lead on a 3-0 run. Both Bender and Collins added their second goals tying the game. Collins's third goal with 45 seconds left regained the advantage for Bucknell. SFU took advantage of Bucknell's pressure and found a wide open Red Flash player who equalized the game.

On Bucknell's next possession, Kallmeyer, a junior, rose to the occasion with a skipping shot that went past the SFU goalie with two seconds remaining for the 10-9 win. The game was not yet over. Saint Francis, appropriately, threw up a Hail Mary shot that almost went in but goalkeeper Tamara Torkos swatted it away.

Mercyhurst Recap

The Bison easily handled the newly minted CWPA foe en route to a 13-4 victory and 2-0 start in conference play.

Bucknell jumped out to a 6-0 lead thanks to three goals by Ashley Hopper and one goal each from Finkler, Izzy Lippolis, and Caitlin Stott.

Mercyhurst scored once in the second period but Bucknell added two tallies by Olivia Hopper and Boati Motau.

The Orange & Blue scored four more goals after halftime with Stott adding two and Rhys Beutler and Ashley Hopper providing one apiece.

Ava Bayne supplied Bucknell's one goal in the fourth quarter. Mercyhurst scored twice to finalize the scoring at 13-4.

Up Next

The Bison are off next weekend before heading to New England to face Brown, Harvard, and Princeton in CWPA matches (Feb. 22-23).

Water Polo Conquers in Two Sunday Matches; Increases Winning Streak to Nine Games

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Players Mentioned

Ava Bayne

Lehua Bender

Rhys Beutler

Campbell Collins

Sidney Finkler

Ashley Hopper

Olivia Hopper

Gwen Kallmeyer

Izzy Lippolis

Boati Motau

Caitlin Stott

Tamara Torkos