Water Polo Defeats CSU Fullerton 10-9

SAN DIEGO, Calif.- Bucknell water polo split the final day of the Aztec Invite on Saturday. The Bison (11-8) defeated Cal State Fullerton 10-9 and dropped a close match 11-7 to #20 San Diego State.

Cal State Fullerton Recap

Four different Bison, Lehua Bender, Olivia Hopper, Gwen Kallmeyer, and Izzy Lippolis, tallied two goals to pace Bucknell's balanced attack.

Olivia Hopper opened the scoring but CSU scored two quick goals to take the lead. Bender tied the game at 2-2. Fullerton tallied again to take the 3-2 advantage into the second quarter.

Bella Schraa equaled the game at 3-3 before CSU went on a 2-0 run. Bucknell responded with a 3-0 run thanks to net-finders by Bender, Boati Motau, and Lippolis. CSU tied the contest and Kallmeyer found the cage with three seconds before halftime.

The teams traded goals in the third quarter allowing Bucknell to maintain a slight lead entering the final quarter.

CSU tied the game 8-8 before Lippolis and Kallmeyer each scored a goal for the 10-8 advantage. Fullerton tallied a score with 49 seconds remaining but Bucknell did not allow another goal to seal the win.

San Diego State Recap

Motau headlined the Bison attack with four goals as the Bison nearly pulled the upset before losing the plot in the fourth quarter.

Motau headlined the first quarter, scoring the only two goals and giving Bucknell an early lead.

The Bison took a 4-3 halftime lead thanks to Motau and Olivia Hopper's ability to find the net.

SDSU surged ahead 6-5 in the third quarter before Ashley Hopper scored her sole goal. The two teams entered the final stanza tied at 6-6.

The Aztecs proved why they were ranked in the top 20, using a 4-0 run to swim away from the hard-fighting Bison. Olivia Hopper broke the streak with a goal but SDSU answered with another tally for the 11-7 win.

Up Next

The Bison head to the Wolverine Invite next weekend.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lehua Bender

Ashley Hopper

Olivia Hopper

Gwen Kallmeyer

Izzy Lippolis

Boati Motau

Bella Schraa