Bucknell University
#19 Michigan
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Nearly Upsets No. 19 Michigan, Falls 8-7 in First Round of Eastern Championship
4/28/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 28, 2007
Eastern Championship Results
PRINCETON, N.J. - The Bucknell women's water polo team nearly pulled off its second first-round upset at the Eastern Championship in as many years, but a backhanded goal by Michigan's Carrie Frost with 26 seconds remaining broke the sixth tie of the game and gave the No. 19 Wolverines an 8-7 victory over the Bison Saturday afternoon at DeNunzio Pool. Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led Bucknell (14-16) with three goals.
The Bison, seeded seventh in the eight-team field, will play the loser of Saturday afternoon's No. 18 Princeton and Maryland contest at 5:30 p.m. Michigan (24-14) will take on the winner of that game in the semifinals Saturday night.
Bucknell, which upset No. 18 Indiana in the first round of last year's Eastern Championship, played tight with Michigan the entire contest as the Wolverines led by more than one goal for just 45 seconds. The Bison even led in the second half when Rowe converted the second of her two five-meter penalty shot goals for a 6-5 lead.
Jennifer Swoyer (Erie, Pa./McDowell) helped Rowe on the offensive end with one goal and a team-high three assists in just her third start since the beginning of March. She also totaled two steals and paced the squad with three ejections drawn.
Bucknell was strong in man-up situations, converting four of its seven opportunities.
Mandy Bynum (San Jose, Calif./Leland) made nine saves in goal for the Bison, who fell to 0-8 all-time against Michigan. She also registered a pair of steals.
Mary Chatigny, Leah Robertson and Shana Welch paced the Wolverines with two goals apiece.
BUCKNELL 2 2 2 1 -7
MICHIGAN 3 1 2 2 -8
Goals: Rowe (3), Kingerski, Gins, Swoyer, Jensen.
Assists: Swoyer (3), Jensen.
Ejections Drawn: Swoyer (3), Gins (2), Rozas, Rowe.
Saves: Bynum (9 svs., 8 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Rowe (3), Swoyer (2), Jensen (2), Bynum (2), Palencia, Gins, Rozas.
Sprints: Jensen (1-2), Swoyer (0-2).
Record: 14-16
