Bucknell University
Michigan (Eastern Championships)
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Falls Twice at Eastern Championships
4/30/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 30, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After losing to 11th-ranked and second-seeded Michigan in its first game of the day, the Bucknell women's water polo team suffered a heartbreaking loss in its second contest Saturday at the Eastern Championships. The seventh-seeded Bison fell to sixth-seeded Brown 6-5 in sudden-death overtime.
Bucknell (22-11) will face George Washington for seventh place in the eight-team field at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. It will be the fifth time this season the two teams have met, with the Bison holding a 4-0 edge.
In an exciting game against the Bears, Bucknell jumped out to a 2-0 first-quarter lead, but allowed Brown to tie the score at 2-2 heading into halftime. Each team scored one goal in both the third and fourth quarters to send the contest into overtime, the first of the year for the Bison. The Bears scored once in the first of the two three-minute overtime periods to take a 5-4 lead. However, Bucknell knotted the score in the second overtime period to send the game into sudden death overtime. Neither team scored in its first handful of possessions, but Brown finally scored the game-winning goal on its fifth possession.
Meagan Gins and Cody Keffer each scored two goals to lead the Bison. Meg Blitzer added her team-leading 64th of the season to bring her within two of equaling her own Bucknell season record. She also added two assists to climb within five of the Bucknell single-season mark held by Adrienne Schober.
Goalie Mandy Bynum made 11 saves in goal to lead the Bison defense, which held Brown scoreless in its five 6 on 5 opportunities. However, Bucknell was able to convert just once in its five man-up chances.
In the first game, Bucknell's offense could not get going against the tough Michigan defense. The Bison were just 1-for-9 in man-up situations. Jennifer Swoyer scored the only goal in the third quarter, after the Wolverines had already built a 6-0 lead.
Many Bynum made eight saves against Michigan. With her 19 stops Saturday she increased her season total to 230. She has given up just 147 goals.
The winner of the Eastern Championships earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships. The title game will take place at 1:30 p.m.
Bucknell will square off with George Washington at 9 a.m. Sunday for its final game of the season. If the Bison win they will finish seventh and equal their best-ever finish at Easterns.
Game 1
MICHIGAN 3 1 2 1 -- 7
BUCKNELL 0 0 1 0 -- 1
Goals: Swoyer.
Assists: Sullivan
Ejections Drawn: Trimis (2), Gins (2), Sullivan (2), Hartigan, Blitzer.
Saves: Bynum (8 svs., 7 ga)
Steals: Blitzer (2), Gins (2), Trimis, Hartigan.
Record: 22-10
Game 2
BROWN 0 2 1 1 1 0 1 -- 6
BUCKNELL 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 -- 5
Goals: Keffer (2), Gins (2), Blitzer.
Assists: Blitzer (2), Nogic, Gins.
Ejections Drawn: Jensen (2), Gins (2).
Saves: Bynum (11 svs., 6 ga)
Steals: Hartigan (2), Blitzer, Nogic.
Record: 22-11
