Bucknell University
Iona
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Posts 13-6 Victory over Iona
2/25/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 25, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - A strong defense and a patient offense helped the Bucknell women's water polo team hold Iona to just one goal in a stretch of 25 minutes, 32 seconds as it came back from a 3-2 first-quarter deficit to defeat the Gaels 13-6 Sunday morning at Kinney Natatorium. The Bison, who have won all three of their games this weekend, will wrap up the Bucknell Invitational Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against Marist.
Iona (1-2), which is participating in its season-opening weekend, alternated goals with Bucknell early in the high-scoring first quarter that ended with the Bison holding a 5-3 advantage. The Gaels did hold one-goal leads three times in the first three minutes. However, after a goal by Lauren Peterson with 5:08 remaining the Gaels did not tally again. In fact, Iona scored just one goal in the next 25:32 as Bucknell opened a game-high 12-4 lead in the fourth quarter.
Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) and Elizabeth Jensen (San Mateo, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) led the Bison with three goals apiece, while Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) added a pair of goals and a pair of assists. Gins and Jensen helped keep Bucknell close in the fast-pace first quarter as each found the back of the net twice in the opening frame.
A total of eight Bison netted goals in the contest as they controlled tempo following the first quarter.
After opening the eight-goal advantage in the fourth quarter, the solid Bucknell defense yielded two of the last three goals of the game. Peterson, Nicole King and Amanda Cody scored two goals apiece to account for all of the Gaels' goals.
Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) played the entire game in goal for the Bison and made a career-high nine saves. In front of her, Bucknell registered nine steals, including a team-high from Mallory Sullivan (Tulare, Calif./Tulare Western).
The Bison, who have now won three consecutive games, and four of their last five, to improve to 5-6 this season, will close out their weekend at 3:30 p.m. against Marist. The Red Foxes upset Bucknell 7-6 at the Maryland Invitational last weekend.
IONA 3 1 0 2 -6
BUCKNELL 5 3 3 2 -13
Goals: Gins (3), Jensen (3), Palencia (2), Kingerski, Trimis, Swoyer, Rozas, Rowe.
Assists: Palencia (2), Rozas (2), Kingerski, Trimis, Gins, Rowe.
Ejections Drawn: Gins (3), Rozas (3), Palencia, Trimis, Swoyer, Abuhoff, Sullivan, Rowe.
Saves: Carter (9 svs., 6 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Sullivan (3), Palencia, Kingerski, Gins, Swoyer, Jensen, Carter.
Sprints: Jensen (0-2), Rowe (0-2).
Record: 5-6
