LEWISBURG, Pa.— The Long Island University women's water polo team travels to Pennsylvania to compete at the 2020 Bucknell Invitational this weekend. The Sharks will take on Harvard and Mercyhurst on Saturday, February 8 before closing out the tournament against Salem University and La Salle on Sunday, February 9.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
2020 Bucknell Invitational Tournament Central
(Weekend Schedule & Results)
LIU vs. Harvard
Saturday, February 8 | 11:30 a.m.
LIU vs. Mercyhurst
Saturday, February 8 | 4:30 p.m.
LIU vs. Salem University
Sunday, February 9 | 1:00 p.m.
LIU vs. La Salle
Sunday, February 9 | 4:45 p.m.
NOTES ON THE SHARKS
LIU kicked off its inaugural season last weekend at the 2020 Bruno Classic. The Sharks battled tournament host, Brown and Whittier on Saturday. LIU earned its first ever win on Sunday morning with a 12-4 victory over Austin College. The team closed out the weekend with a 9-7 setback against Saint Francis U.
Freshman
Alejandra Aranguren led the Sharks with 12 points on the weekend with 11 goals and 1 assists. She netted the program's first goal in the second quarter against Brown on Saturday and tallied a hat trick in the win over Austin on Sunday.
Freshman
Jessica Dean also tallied 11 goals for the LIU offense in four games this past weekend and won 11 sprints. Rookies
Jenna Anderson,
Kate Hinrichs,
Jeannet Garcia all chipped in four goals this past weekend.
SCOUTING THE CRIMSON
Harvard comes into the weekend with a 4-0 record and is ranked 15th in the latest Collegiate Water Polo Association Top-25. The Crimson have notched victories over LIU's MAAC counterparts, Iona, Villanova and Wagner in the first two weekends.
Borden Wahl leads the team with nine goals in four contests. Quinne Pursell has been the team's leading distributor with nine assists. In the cage, Zoe Banks has totaled 27 saves to start the season.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS
Mercyhurst is set to begin its 2020 schedule this weekend at the Bison Invitational. The Lakers will take on Gannon University Saturday morning before capping the first day against the Sharks in the afternoon. The team ended the 2019 campaign with an 8-18 record.
The Lakers return four of their top five-scorers from last season. Headlining the group is Maddie Nye who totaled 77 goals and 92 points in 2019. Rachel Byrnes finished with 34 points last season and Rachel Morris tallied a team-high 22 assists. Mercyhurst also returns Sarah O'Keefe in net, she recorded a .440 save percentage and was a WWPA All-Tournament Second Team selection last season.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Salem is off to a 4-0 start to the 2020 season earning victories over George Washington, La Salle, St. Francis Brooklyn and Villanova last weekend in Philadelphia. The Tigers posted a 14-14 mark in 2019 and were tabbed third in the Western Water Polo Association preseason poll.
Goalkeeper Philippa Piper helped the team to an unbeaten opening weekend and is the reigning WWPA Player of the Week. Piper posted a .602 save percentage and totaled 50 saves in the net. She also made five steals and contributed on offense with seven assists.
Offensively, Annefleur ten Bloemendal registered a team-high 24 points on 13 goals and 11 assists last weekend. Margherita Garibbo added 12 goals and eight assists and 10 steals.
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS
La Salle opened the 2020 season last weekend hosting the La Salle Invite at Kirk Pool. The Explorers went 1-2 for the weekend, earning a 12-10 victory over George Washington last Saturday. This weekend, La Salle will take on George Washington once again along with matchups against Saint Francis U and Mercyhurst before the weekend finale against the Sharks.
The Explorers are led offensively by their junior class of Sarah DeFusco, Karle Linden, Madison Martinez and Jillian DeLisle who combined for 22 goals and 19 assists last weekend. DeFusco also led the team with 10 in three contests. Rookie Caitlin Valentine made 19 saves in two games last weekend for La Salle.
UP NEXT
The Sharks will head to New Jersey next weekend for the Princeton Invitational beginning Saturday, February 15. LIU will compete against George Washington, San Diego State and tournament host, Princeton.
