EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 11, 2023) – Taking on Mercyhurst in the pool for the second time in six days, Mount St. Mary's women's water polo remained perfect on the young season. Earning a 15-8 win, the Mount is off to a 3-0 start. The contest opened the team's efforts at the Bucknell Invite.
Annefleur ten Bloemendal earned her third hat trick in a row, leading the Mountaineers with four goals scored. Also joining in for a hat trick was
Anna Kegel, number two on the year for the freshman. Three more players –
Beatrice Vieira,
Ana Luisa Cotta and
Rebecca Valentine – posted multiple goals.
Along with her goal scoring prowess, ten Bloemendal added four steals and five drawn exclusions. Cotta posted four assists, and Valentine matched ten Bloemendal with steals. In the net,
Pip Piper denied 10 shots, adding an assist and a steal.
The first quarter played out almost even, with each team taking a turn at the lead. Valentine got the Mount on the board first, but Mercyhurst responded twice for a 2-1 edge.
Heather Lock knotted the score and ten Bloemendal reverted the lead back to the Mountaineers. A 3-0 run to open the second quarter gave the Mount a healthy 6-2 advantage before the Lakers had another response to cut it within two. Kegel scored twice to boost the team to an 8-5 halftime score.
Mount St. Mary's took control in the third period with four unanswered goals. A late score by the Lakers prevented the period shutout, but by now the Mount built a comfortable advantage. After surrendering an early fourth quarter score, the Mount kept Mercyhurst off the board until the waning seconds to preserve the victory.
Day two of the Bucknell Invite begins at daybreak with an 8 a.m. showdown with St. Francis Brooklyn. Later that afternoon, they'll face Princeton with a 2:15 p.m. start time to conclude their stay in Lewisburg.
Mount St. Mary's 15, Mercyhurst 8
Team 1 2 3 4
Mount St. Mary's 3 5 4 3
Mercyhurst 2 3 1 2
Goals: ten Bloemendal 4, Kegel 3, Vieira 2, Cotta 2, Valentine 2, Currie 1, Lock 1
Saves: Piper 10
