Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
George Washington* (Bucknell Invitational)
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Improves to 7-1 with 12-8 Win Over George Washington
2/24/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 24, 2006
Bucknell Invitational Results
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Behind five goals from Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and four goals and three assists from Elizabeth Jensen (San Mateo, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep), Bucknell jumped out to an 8-1 lead and cruised to a 12-8 win over George Washington Friday night at Kinney Natatorium. The Bison improved to 7-1 overall and 1-0 in CWPA Southern Division play as the game marked the opening if league play. The Colonials fell to 2-5 and 0-1 in conference action.
An up-tempo Bucknell offense raced to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter behind two goals each from Jensen and Jennifer Swoyer (Erie, Pa./McDowell). That lead extended to 7-1 after a flurry of goals from Rowe early in the second quarter. She tallied three goals within a 1:47 span. The first one came as a six-on-five opportunity came to an end, and the second one came during a man-advantage situation. Two minutes after Rowe's last score, Jensen added another to stake the Bison to an 8-1 advantage, their largest of the first half. George Washington's Erin Bailey, who scored twice in the game, tallied her first goal 90 seconds before halftime to cut the lead to 8-2.
Kat Eckert (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon), Jensen and Rowe combined to score three of the first four goals in the second half as Bucknell built an 11-3 lead, its largest of the game. George Washington scored five of the game's final six goals, including one by Greta Pedraza as time expired, to narrow the final deficit to just four goals as Bucknell head coach John Zeigler utilized his bench a great deal in the second half.
Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) entered the game second on the Bison in scoring, but did not register a point for the first time all season. However, Gins was a force on the defensive end, picking up a season-high four steals.
Bucknell goalie Mandy Bynum (San Jose, Calif./Leland) was called upon to make six saves and one steal. She faced only 18 George Washington shots as the Bison outshot the Colonials 29-18.
Bucknell's 7-1 start is the second-best in the eight-year history of the program. Last year's squad opened the season with an 11-1 mark. One key to the success of the Bison has been their first-quarter advantage. After outscoring George Washington 4-1 in the first seven minutes of play Friday, Bucknell holds a 22-10 edge in first-quarter scoring over its opponents.
Bucknell continues play at the Bucknell Invitational Saturday and Sunday. The Bison take on Siena at 11:20 a.m. Saturday morning at Kinney Natatorium and then face No. 16 Hartwick at 4:10 p.m.
GEORGE WASHINGTON 1 1 2 4 -8
BUCKNELL 4 4 3 1 -12
Goals: Rowe (5), Jensen (4), Swoyer (2), Eckert.
Assists: Jensen (3), Bynum (3), Trimis, Barto, Sullivan.
Ejections Drawn: Rowe (3), Barto (2), Trimis, Sullivan.
Saves: Bynum (6 svs., 8 ga, 28:00 min.).
Steals: Gins (4), Kingerski (2), Bynum, Eckert, Abuhoff, Barto, Rowe.
Sprints: Rowe (2-2), Jensen (2-2).
Record: 7-1, 1-0 CWPA Southern Division
