Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Set to Host Women's Water Polo Southern Championships this Weekend
4/22/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 22, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium will be the site of the women's water polo Southern Division Championships this weekend, and the Bison are expected to challenge for the title in the five-team field. There will be six games played throughout the day Saturday, while the champion will be crowned in the second of three games Sunday.
The top two teams in the Southern Championships receive automatic berths to the Eastern Championships, held next weekend in Bloomington, Ind. A third Southern Division team is expected to earn an at-large spot in the eight-team Eastern Championships field. The winner of the Eastern Championships automatically advances to the NCAA Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich., May 13-15.
Bucknell will face third-seeded George Washington in its first game Saturday at 11:30. If the Bison defeat the Colonials for the fourth time this year, they will play at 7 p.m. If they lose, their second game of the day will be at 8:15 p.m.
Seeded second, Bucknell is in position for its best-ever finish at the Southern Division Championships. The Bison finished third last year equaling their showing in 2000. Bucknell finished fifth in 2003, the last time Kinney Natatorium was the host venue for the event.
The Bison, who have won five consecutive games, and nine of their last 10, have compiled a 20-8 mark this year to set a program record for wins. Bucknell equaled the longest winning streak in the history of the program earlier this year by winning nine games in a row. Six of the team's eight losses have come to ranked foes.
Senior Meg Blitzer has been the offensive catalyst for the Bison this year. Already the program's single-season goals leader with 66 last year, Blitzer recently became the career leader in goals (190) and points (267). She leads the team in goals (58) and is tied with Katie Hartigan for top honors on the squad with 19 assists.
Blitzer has had help on the offensive end as five other Bucknell players have tallied at least 20 points. Freshman Meagan Gins has made an immediate impact by scoring 42 goals and registering 53 points to stand second on the team in both categories. Seniors Cody Keffer and Hartigan have also been productive. Keffer, who ranks third on the career goals list with 150, has 25 goals and 17 assists this season. Hartigan has found the back of the net 17 times to go along with her 19 assists.
Goalie Mandy Bynum has been a key in the back of the defense that has limited opponents to just 148 goals. A native of San Jose, Calif., Bynum has started 21 games and made 191 saves. She has allowed just 124 goals for a save percentage of .606. If she continues on the same pace she will smash her own Bucknell single-season mark of .560 she set last year as a freshman. Classmate Katie Colgan has also seen some time in net and has made 55 saves against 24 goals allowed for a save percentage of .696.
Bucknell's game against George Washington Saturday will be broadcast live on the internet through BucknellBison.com and in the Lewisburg area on 1380 WMLP-AM. Doug Birdsong will call the action, while former Bison water polo player Christina Behrens will handle analyst duties.
Southern Championships Schedule
Bracket A:
1st Seed: Princeton
4th Seed: Maryland
5th Seed: Salem International
Bracket B:
2nd Seed: Bucknell
3rd Seed: George Washington
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Game 1: Princeton vs. Maryland, 10 a.m.
Game 2: Bucknell vs. George Washington, 11:30 a.m.
Game 3: Maryland vs. Salem International, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Princeton vs. Salem International, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Winner of Game 2 vs. Second in Bracket A, 7 p.m.
Game 6: Loser of Game 2 vs. Third in Bracket A, 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Third Place: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 5, 10 a.m.
First Place: First in Bracket A vs. Winner of Game 5, 11:30 a.m.
Fourth Place: Loser of Game 7 vs. Loser of Game 6, 1 p.m.
