A pair of power play goals highlighted a fourth-quarter rally, but Salem University took its first loss of the season as the Tigers fell to nationally 23rd-ranked and tournament host Bucknell University 14-10 in the opening game of the Bucknell Invite in non-conference women's water polo Friday at Lewisburg, Pa. Margherita Garibbo led the Tigers with three goals.
 
A four-goal halftime deficit ballooned into eight goals as Salem (4-1) held scoreless in the third period until Courtney O'Shaugnessy scored in the final minute as the Tigers entered the fourth quarter trailing 13-5. After Maryanna Antoniou scored 90 seconds into the final period, a Bucknell exclusion led to a power play goal by Annefleur ten Bloemendal to cut the deficit to 13-7 with 5:14 left to play.
 
Salem lost the ball on its next possession, but Chloe Woodbine turned the turnover into a goal as she intercepted a back pass in front of the goal to pull the Tigers within 13-8. A Bucknell goal with 3:33 remaining ended Salem's run, but the Tigers quickly answered as ten Bloemendal found Woodbine for a short goal to make it a 14-9 game just 16 seconds later.
 
The Tigers capitalized on another exclusion as ten Bloemendal scored her second power play goal with 2:30 remaining. Bucknell goalkeeper Georgia Lewis recorded saves on Salem's next two shots and the Bison conceded a pair of 35-second shot clock violations down the stretch to run the clock down.
 
A penalty shot helped Bucknell (5-0) jump out to an early 4-0 lead before Garribo scored Salem's first goal. Erin Zappia scored a second-quarter goal and Garibbo scored all of her goals in the first half as the Tigers trailed 8-4 at halftime.
 
Woodbine and ten Bloemendal finished with two goals apiece, all coming in the fourth period. Philippa Piper recorded eight saves in goal.
 
Bucknell's Ally Furano, who set a school record last week with eight goals against nationally 24th-ranked Marist College, led all players with five goals.
 
Salem returns to the pool Saturday for a pair of games, starting with a rematch against George Washington University at 2 p.m. The Tigers defeated the Colonials 11-10 last Sunday at the La Salle Invite. Salem faces Gannon University at 8:15 p.m., then concludes tournament play Sunday afternoon against Long Island University.