Win Streak Hits Six as No. 24 Women’s Water Polo Begins CWPA Play 2-0

Saturday, February 26

Lewisburg, Pa.

3:00 p.m.

Brown University

Saint Francis

Photo by: David Silverman Photography

Win Streak Hits Six as No. 24 Women’s Water Polo Begins CWPA Play 2-0

2/26/2022 8:05:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Nationally-ranked Brown women's water polo extended its win streak to six with back-to-back CWPA victories on Saturday in Kinney Natatorium.

No. 24 Brown upended Saint Francis 7-3 in the opener of league play and followed with a 12-7 win over No. 25 Bucknell in a battle of nationally-ranked opponents.

The win streak is the longest since the start of the 2020 season when the Bears began the campaign 7-0.

"It was a good day today against two quality conference opponents," said Felix Mercado, Head Coaching Chair for Water Polo. "Defense was our focus point going into this weekend and so far, so good. We look forward to competing against one of the best offenses in our conference in Princeton tomorrow."

Shauna Franke picked up both wins.

GAME ONE – BROWN (10-5, 1-0 CWPA) DEFEATED SAINT FRANCIS (5-9, 0-4 CWPA) 7-3
Brown took a 3-0 lead through the opening period. Zoe King led things off with a goal with 6:53 remaining, followed by Sierra Martin's first of two goals with 3:20 to go. Emily Suong made it 3-0 Bears.

Saint Francis found the net with 5:58 remaining in the half, but Dagmara Czajka's lone shot was perfect to extend the Brown lead to three.

The Red Flash cut the Brown edge to one at the half with two goals to close the second period.

Brown did not allow another Saint Francis goal and scored three times in the third as Claire Pisani scored twice in the period with a Martin goal sandwiched between her two for the 7-3 Brown lead.

Marley Presiado recorded two saves and Franke posted seven saves for the win. Siena Berry finished with two assists and three others picked up one apiece. Lily Weiser, King and Suong collected two steals with four adding one each. Defender Sophie Golub finished with two blocks.

GAME TWO – BROWN (11-5, 2-0 CWPA) DEFEATED #25 BUCKNELL (5-4, 1-3 CWPA) 12-7
Bucknell struck first with a goal at the 6:28 mark but the first period was closed by back-to-back Bears goals for a 2-1 lead. Scoring the goals were Weiser (2:58) and Martin (0:30).

For good measure, Brown added three more for five unanswered goals by Czajka (6:29), Tallulah Clancy (4:46) and King (3:35).

Bucknell cut the lead to three but Brown took its largest lead with two goals in the final minute of the first half by Martin (0:44) and Golub (0:02).

Brown scored four goals in the third to Bucknell's two and added one more in the final period to begin CWPA play 2-0 with a 12-7 win.

Martin led the Bears with three goals and added an assist and steal. Wesier, Golub and Pisani registered two goals apiece and Katie Klein and King each posted two assists. Czajka collected four steals and King added three.

Presiado finished with four saves and Franke had six for the win.

NEXT UP
The Bears take on No. 20 Princeton tomorrow at noon in Lewisburg. The live stream can be found by visiting https://portal.stretchinternet.com/cwpa/.

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