Water Polo Dropped by Two Ranked Foes at the Aztec Invitational

Saturday, March 14

San Diego, Calif.

1:30 p.m. (ET)/10:30 a.m. (PT)

Bucknell University

Long Beach State

Photo by: Rich Garcia

Water Polo Dropped by Two Ranked Foes at the Aztec Invitational

3/14/2026 8:42:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

SAN DIEGO, CALIF.- Bucknell (11-9) completed the Aztec Invitational on Saturday with two ranked losses to #8 Long Beach State (12-9) and #24 Ponoma-Pitzer (11-12). The Bison fell 19-16 to the Beach and were edged 12-11 by the Sagehens.

LBSU Recap

Long Beach State demonstrated why the program, despite a silghtly-above-average W-L record, deserved its top ten ranking. The Beach held the Bison scoreless in the first quarter and rode the wave to a 19-6 victory. Six different Bison tallied a goal.

LBSU kept the Orange & Blue off the scoreboard and scored three goals in the opening stanza.

Bucknell found the cage twice in the second quarter but Long Beach's eight goals prevented any credible chance.

The Beach's dominance continued in the second half. Bucknell's offensive pace picked up with four goals but LBSU added eight more to seal its win.

Pomona-Pitzer Recap

Bucknell came tantalizingly close to its first ranked win of 2026 but a Sagehen goal with 54 seconds left prevented the upset. Addison Wedding led Bucknell with three goals.

The game started positively for the Bison with Bucknell recording a 2-1 lead after the first quarter.

The Sagehens asserted themselves in the next period, outscoring the Bison five goals to two.

Ponoma-Pitzer surged ahead 7-4 in the third quarter but the Orange & Blue rallied for the 7-7 tie. Once again, the Sagehens forged ahead by a goal before Wedding dented the twine and the game headed into the fourth quarter locked at 8-8.

The ranked foe again went ahead by two goals. Bucknell cut the deficit in half and again Ponoma-Pitzer answered. The Bison tied the game on goals by Wedding and Ashley Hopper. Pomona-Pitzer's coach called timeout and drew up a play. The strategy worked and the Sagehens were ahead 12-11. Bucknell used a timeout but the Bison turned the ball and Pomona-Pitzer escaped with the 12-11 win.

Up Next

Bucknell completes regular season play next Saturday with conference games against Brown and Mercyhurst.