Bucknell University
#6 San Diego State
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens 2007 Campaign with 11-3 Loss to No. 6 San Diego State
2/10/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 10, 2007
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - In its 2007 season opener at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational on Saturday, the Bucknell women's water polo team fell to No. 6 San Diego State by an 11-3 margin. Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) led the Bison with two goals, while freshman Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) added her first career score.
Bucknell will take on No. 12 Santa Clara (4-2) Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. (Eastern) in its second game of the two-day event.
The Bison (0-1) fell behind the Aztecs (2-0) 7-0 in the first half, but were outscored by just a 4-3 margin in the second half. Mallory Sullivan (Tulare, Calif./Tulare Western) and Mandy Bynum (San Jose, Calif./Leland) each tallied one assist for Bucknell, which played without two normal starters in Aubrey Rowe and Jessica Trimis.
Behind two steals apiece from Laura Stalker (New Canaan, Conn./Choate Rosemary Hall) and Sullivan, Bucknell recorded eight total steals.
Bynum had a solid game in goal against formidable competition, making 12 saves, just two shy of last year's season-high of 14.
The loss marked the first time Bucknell has failed to wins its season opener since 2004 as the Bison jumped out to a 3-0 start last spring and a 2-0 mark in 2005. By playing on Feb. 10, Bucknell also equaled 2001 for the earliest starting date in program history.
In addition to Saturday afternoon's contest with Santa Clara, Bucknell will also play two more games Sunday in the Triton Invitational. With 12 ranked teams in the 16-team field there is a good chance the Bison will face more than two ranked foes in its first four games of the season for the first time.
BUCKNELL 0 0 1 2 -3
SAN DIEGO STATE 3 4 2 2 -11
Goals: Gins (2), Rozas.
Assists: Sullivan, Bynum.
Ejections Drawn: Gins (2), Rozas (2), Swoyer, Stalker.
Saves: Bynum (12 svs., 11 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Stalker (2), Sullivan (2), Gins, Swoyer, Abuhoff, Jensen.
Sprints: Jensen (0-4).
Record: 0-1
