Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#15 Michigan
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Edged by No. 15 Michigan, 11-8
2/17/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 17, 2008
PRINCETON, N.J. - For the second consecutive game the Bucknell women's water polo team played tight with a nationally ranked foe, but came up just a little short. The Bison lost to No. 15 Michigan 11-8 Sunday morning on the final day of the Princeton Invitational. Bucknell outscored the Wolverines 8-7 in the first, third and fourth quarters, but Michigan held a 4-0 edge in the second.
The Bison, who are now 6-2 this year, led 4-3 at the end of the first quarter, but then failed to score in the second. They played Michigan (4-7) evenly in the second half (4-4). In that pivotal second quarter, Bucknell drew six ejections, but could not convert any of the six-on-five chances.
Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) and Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) led the Bison with two goals apiece, while Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) dished out four assists, just one shy of equaling the program record, which she last equaled in 2006. Gins now has 270 points in her career, just 12 shy of equaling Meg Blitzer's program record.
Bucknell played an unselfish game, tallying eight assists in the contest. It also had 15 six-on-five chances, converting five.
Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) played the entire game in goal and made five saves for the Bison, who lost 13-8 to No. 6 San Diego State Saturday afternoon, but were tied at 8-all late in the third quarter. Carter also had a team-high three steals.
Bucknell wraps up the Princeton Invitational Sunday afternoon against No. 18 Indiana at 1:50 p.m. It will be the third consecutive ranked opponent for the Bison. The Hoosiers were the last ranked foe Bucknell defeated, outscoring them 6-5 in overtime at the 2006 Eastern Championship.
BUCKNELL 4 0 1 3 -8
MICHIGAN 3 4 1 3 -11
Goals: Palencia (2), Rozas (2), Gins, Swoyer, Prickett, McBride.
Assists: Gins (4), Canonica (2), Vallis, Rozas.
Ejections Drawn: Rozas (5), Allen (4), Gins (2), Prickett (2), Canonica, Rowe.
Saves: Carter (5 svs., 11 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Carter (3), Palencia, Gins, Rozas, Canonica, Allen.
Sprints: Allen (1-2), Canonica (0-1), Palencia (0-1).
Record: 6-2
