Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
No. 12 Hartwick (Eastern Championship)
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Falls Short in Upset Bid, Drops 14-8 Decision to No. 12 Hartwick
4/29/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 29, 2006
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - After already upsetting nationally ranked Indiana earlier in the day, the Bucknell women's water polo team nearly did the same to No. 12 Hartwick, but fell to the Hawks 14-8 after holding a 6-4 edge late in the first half Saturday evening in the semifinals of the Eastern Championship.
The pesky Bison fell behind 4-3, but scored three unanswered goals in the second quarter to take a two-goal lead. However, Hartwick scored a pair of goals in the final 37 seconds of the half to even the score heading into halftime. The physical Hawks then outscored Bucknell 8-2 in the second half.
Elizabeth Jensen (San Mateo, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) scored a pair of first-half goals, while Jennifer Swoyer (Erie, Pa./McDowell) did the same, including one on a penalty shot, to lead the Bison. Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) scored one goal and dished out a team-high two assists as she became the first Bucknell player to ever reach 100 points in a season with five total in the two contests Saturday.
Gins also drew an amazing 11 ejections in the two games Saturday, including five against Hartwick.
After saving 11 shots earlier in the day, Mandy Bynum (San Jose, Calif./Leland) made six saves against the Hawks.
Bucknell was just 2-for-7 in six-on-five opportunities.
Bucknell, which has already equaled the program record for victories with 23 this season, has guaranteed itself at least a fourth-place finish at the Eastern Championship. The Bison had never finished above seventh before this season.
Bucknell will play in the third-place game against No. 20 Princeton Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. The Bison, who are 2-6 against ranked opponents this season, have lost all three meetings with the Tigers this season by a combined five points. Hartwick and Michigan will meet for the title for the third time in five years immediately following the Bucknell-Princeton game.
BUCKNELL 3 3 1 1 -8
HARTWICK 4 2 4 4 -14
Goals: Jensen (2), Swoyer (2), Kingerski, Gins, Nogic, Rowe.
Assists: Gins (2), Swoyer, Nogic, Sullivan, Rowe.
Ejections Drawn: Gins (5), Kingerski (2), Rowe.
Saves: Bynum (6 svs., 14 ga., 28:00 min.).
Steals: Sullivan (2), Kingerski, Gins, Swoyer, Jensen, Nogic, Rowe.
Sprints: Rowe (1-2), Jensen (0-2).
Record: 23-8
