Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Harvard
Late Goal by Rozas Leads Bucknell Women's Water Polo to 14-13 Win Over Harvard
2/22/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 22, 2009
PRINCETON, N.J. – Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) scored four goals Sunday afternoon against Harvard and the Bucknell women's water polo team needed each one of them to claim its sixth victory of the season. Rozas netted her fourth goal with six seconds remaining in regulation to give the Bison a 14-13 victory over the Crimson to conclude the Princeton Invitational with a 3-1 record. Bucknell's four games at the two-day event were decided by a total of six goals.
With the score tied at 13-13 and 34 seconds showing on the clock, the Bison called timeout to set up a final play and avoid their second overtime game of the weekend. Rozas converted with six seconds left. Harvard had one last attempt, but a steal by Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) sealed the win for Bucknell (6-5).
Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) and Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) equaled Rozas for team-high honors with four goals apiece as that trio combined for 12 goals in the contest. Each of Palencia's four goals were in six-on-five situations. She tallied three goals in the same situations earlier in the day a 13-10 win over Marist.
The Bison needed to come back from a large first-quarter deficit to pick up the victory. Harvard built a 4-0 advantage in the first frame, and led 5-2 after the period. A five-goal fourth quarter completed the comeback.
Rachel McGillis (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) and Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) split time in goal for Bucknell. McGillis recorded nine saves while playing half of the third quarter and all of the fourth. Carter started and stopped eight shots in her nearly 20 minutes of action.
The 13 goals the Crimson scored were the most an opponent had scored in a Bucknell victory since the Bison defeated Villanova 17-15 in February 2001.
Rowe, who had seven points earlier in the day against the Red Foxes, led the way with six points against Harvard. She also registered a team-high four steals and tied with Rozas for team-high honors with four ejections drawn. Rowe now has 269 career points, which places her third in program history. She also went over the 100-assist mark for her career on Sunday.
Bucknell will make its home debut next weekend when it hosts the Elite Six Invitational at Kinney Natatorium. The Bison will face this same Harvard team as well as nationally ranked foes Michigan and Hartwick.
HARVARD 5 2 4 2 -13
BUCKNELL 2 3 4 5 -14
Goals: Palencia (4), Rozas (4), Rowe (4), Canonica (2).
Assists: Vallis (2), Canonica (2), Prickett (2), Rowe (2), Palencia, Skonezney.
Ejections Drawn: Rozas (4), Rowe (4), Canonica (2), Palencia.
Saves: Carter (8 svs., 9 ga., 19:00 min.), McGillis (9 svs., 4 ga., 13 min.).
Steals: Rowe (4), Prickett (2), Rozas.
Sprints: Skonezney (2-4).
Bucknell Record: 6-5
