Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Slippery Rock
No. 19 Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens ECAC Championship with 16-3 Victory over Slippery Rock
3/1/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 1, 2008
ECAC Championship Schedule & Results
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Four Bison tallied three goals apiece as the Bucknell women's water polo team opened the ECAC Championship with a 16-3 win over Slippery Rock Saturday morning at Kinney Natatorium. The Bison improved to 11-2 with the victory, matching the best-ever 13-game start in program history.
Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover), Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley), Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) and Whiteny Allen (Hillsborough, Calif./Menlo) each scored three goals, while Canonica led all players with seven points as she added four assists.
Bucknell opened up a 10-2 halftime lead on Slippery Rock, which was playing its first game of the season. The Bison outscored The Rock 6-1 in the second half en route to their fifth consecutive win.
Bucknell's defense was particularly strong as every player who appeared in the game recorded at least one steal. Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the way with four as the team totaled 21, one shy of equaling its season high.
For the first time this season Bison interim head coach John Abdou changed up his starting lineup as freshmen Allen and Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) were part of the starting unit for the first time in their young careers. Allen finished with three goals, one assist and two steals, while Prickett had a pair of steals.
As has become common this season, Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) and Rachel McGillis (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) split time in goal. Carter made five saves in the first half, while McGillis tallied two in the second. Slippery Rock (0-1) attempted just 17 shots, with many of them being lofted over the top of the goal.
With its 16 goals, Bucknell reached double figures in goals for the 11th time this season. The high-scoring Bison have tallied more than 15 goals on five occasions.
The victory moved Bucknell into the semifinals of the ECAC Championship where it will play the winner of the game between fourth-seeded Mercyhurst and fifth-seeded Wagner. The Bison, who are playing at home for the first time this season, are the top seed in the eight-team field. Their next game will be at 7 p.m. Saturday against either the Lakers or the Seahawks.
SLIPPERY ROCK 0 2 0 1 -3
BUCKNELL 5 5 3 3 -16
Goals: Palencia (3), Gins (3), Canonica (3), Allen (3), McBride (2), Vallis, Rozas.
Assists: Canonica (4), Rozas (2), Palencia, Gins, Allen, Rowe, Carter.
Ejections Drawn: Rozas, Prickett, Allen, Rowe.
Saves: Carter (5 svs., 2 ga., 16:00 min.), McGillis (2 svs., 1 ga., 16:00 min.).
Steals: Rowe (4), Gins (2), Vallis (2), Rozas (2), Canonica (2), Prickett (2), Allen (2), McBride (2), Palencia, Swoyer, McNally.
Sprints: Allen (1-2), Canonica (0-1), Rowe (0-1).
Record: 11-2
