Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#7 Michigan
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Falls to Top-Seeded Michigan, 15-3
4/24/2004 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 24, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - A goal at 3:29 of the first quarter not only tied the contest 1-1, but it also gave Bucknell junior women's water polo player Meg Blitzer the school single-season goals scored record with 62 on the year. Blitzer's efforts would not be enough, however, as the Bison fell to seventh-ranked Michigan, 15-3, in the second round of the Eastern Championship on Saturday, April 24, being held in Kinney Natatorium on Bucknell's campus. The Wolverines are the top-seed in the tournament, while BU is number eight.
Michigan got the scoring started with a goal from Julie Nisbet at 5:01 of the first. Ten seconds after a Bucknell timeout, Blitzer took a pass from senior Kelly Hofstetter and buried it for the extra-man record setting goal. Ironically, Hofstetter was one of two Bucknell players to hold the former single-season scoring mark of 61.
The Wolverines added two more goals before the end of the frame to carry a 3-1 lead into the second quarter. The Orange and Blue did a good job on the Collegiate Water Polo Association Rookie of the Year, Shana Welch, forcing the freshman to miss her first four shots before finally converting a fast break score with just 14 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Sheetal Narsai made it a 4-1 game with her transition goal, before junior Cody Keffer found Blitzer for a quick restart goal and pulled the Bison within 4-2. That would be as close as the host team would get, however, as the Wolverines proceeded to rattle off eight unanswered goals over the next 11:32 to build an insurmountable 12-2 lead. BU freshman Adrienne Fischer stopped the scoring drought with her 4-meter penalty shot with 3:23 to play, but the potent Michigan team added three more goals over the final three minutes for the 15-3 win.
Despite giving up 15 goals, Bucknell freshman goalkeeper Mandy Bynum made 12 saves, several of those from point blank shots by the Wolverines. The Orange and Blue managed to sneak two of their 15 shots on goal past CWPA Western Division Most Valuable Player Betsey Armstrong, while Sharon Warner played the final 5:48 of the game, stopping one BU shot and allowing one goal.
Blitzer ended the contest with two scores, one steal and one ejection drawn. Fischer was the other goal scorer, and also registered one steal.
Bucknell is 15-17 overall and will face the loser of the #18 Princeton/#20 Brown game at 4:00 p.m. Fifth-seeded Princeton and fourth-seed Brown square off at 12:30 p.m. today.
MICHIGAN 3 4 2 6 -- 15 BUCKNELL 1 1 0 1 -- 3
MICHIGAN BREAKDOWN: Goals - Welch 3, Green 2, Nisbet 2, E. Brown, Narsai, Brown, Hoogenboom, Burkons, J. Brown, Rupp, McCullum. Assists - Brown 2, Narsai 2, E. Brown, Hausmann, Green, McCullum.
BUCKNELL BREAKDOWN: Goals - Blitzer 2, Fischer. Assists - Hofstetter, Keffer.
Steals: Michigan 7. Bucknell 6.
Ejections Drawn: Michigan 4. Bucknell 3.
Saves: Michigan (Armstrong [22:12] 11, Warner [5:48] 1). Bucknell (Bynum) 12.
Team Records: Michigan 29-8. Bucknell 15-17.
