Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
No. 18 Indiana (Eastern Championship)
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Upsets No. 18 Indiana in Overtime at Eastern Championship, 6-5
4/29/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 29, 2006
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) scored her record-breaking 67th goal of the season seconds into the second three-minute overtime period to give the Bucknell women's water polo team a 6-5 lead and the Bison held on to upset No. 18 Indiana Saturday morning at the Eastern Championship. Gins' go-ahead score came with a two-man advantage.
Fifth-seeded Bucknell was the only lower seed to win in the first round of the Eastern Championship as Indiana was the fourth seed. The Bison will face top seed and No. 12 Hartwick Saturday night at 7 p.m. for the right to advance to Sunday's championship game. Bucknell has clinched its best-ever finish at the Eastern Championship. Prior to this year, the Bison's best showing was seventh each of the last two years.
Things looked bleak for Bucknell entering the final minute of regulation as it trailed by two goals. However, Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley), who netted a team-high three goals, scored with 39 seconds remaining to put the Bison down 4-3. The Hoosiers were whistled for stalling on their next possession and Elizabeth Jensen (San Mateo, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) registered the tying goal on a breakaway with 24 seconds on the clock. Jensen registered a team-high four points in the contest with three assists to go along with her game-tying score.
Indiana did have a chance to win the game, but a last-second shot glanced off the left post of the goal.
In overtime, Brooke Zimmerman gave Indiana the early lead with her second goal of the game. However, Rowe immediately tallied the equalizing goal on Bucknell's next possession.
Neither team scored again until Gins netted her go-ahead goal in the opening seconds of the second overtime period. The score helped Gins break Meg Blitzer's single-season program record of 66 goals.
Bucknell's defense, which was keyed by 11 saves from Mandy Bynum (San Jose, Calif./Leland) and three steals by Rowe, shut Indiana out for the final five minutes of overtime play.
Indiana had a chance to send the game to another overtime as it took possession of the ball with 16 seconds on the clock, but Jennifer Swoyer (Erie, Pa./McDowell) knocked the ball away in the closing seconds to thwart the Hoosiers scoring chances.
With the win, the Bison improved to 2-5 this season against ranked opponents. They also equaled the 2005 squad for the most wins in program history with 23.
Bucknell takes on top-seeded Hartwick Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Bison lost to the Hawks 10-2 at Kinney Natatorium earlier this season. They defeated the nationally ranked Hawks last season, 12-10.
BUCKNELL 1 0 0 3 2 -6
INDIANA 0 2 1 1 1 -5
Goals: Rowe (3), Jensen, Gins, Kingerski.
Assists: Jensen (3), Gins, Nogic.
Ejections Drawn: Gins (6), Rowe (4), Swoyer.
Saves: Bynum (11 svs., 5 ga., 34:00 min.).
Steals: Rowe (3), Sullivan (2), Stalker, Kingerski, Trimis, Gins, Eckert, Jensen, Nogic, Bynum.
Sprints: Rowe (3-3), Jensen (2-3).
Record: 23-7
