Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Hosts Elite Six Invitational this Weekend
2/26/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 26, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After playing its first 11 games this year away from home, the Bucknell women's water polo team will get a chance to play in its home facility this weekend when Kinney Natatorium hosts the Elite Six Invitational. Five games will be played on both Saturday and Sunday with the Bison playing at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Elite Six Invitational was established as a meeting place for the top six teams from the previous season's Eastern Championship. This year's event will feature five participants from the 2008 Eastern Championship. Brown qualified for the Elite Six Invitational, but elected not to participate. Harvard replaced the Bears in the competitive field that features three ranked teams.
Elite Six Invitational Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 28
No. 14 Michigan vs. No. 15 Hartwick, 9:45 a.m.
No. 20 Maryland vs. Harvard, 11 a.m.
No. 14 Michigan vs. No. 20 Maryland, 3:30 p.m.
No. 15 Hartwick vs. Princeton, 4:45 p.m.
Harvard vs. Bucknell, 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 1
Princeton vs. No. 14 Michigan, 8 a.m.
No. 20 Maryland vs. No. 15 Hartwick, 9:30 a.m.
Bucknell vs. No. 14 Michigan, 11 a.m.
Princeton vs. Harvard, 12:30 p.m.
No. 15 Hartwick vs. Bucknell, 3:30 p.m.
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Notebook (6-5, 0-1 CWPA)
• Bucknell went 3-1 at the Princeton Invitational last weekend. The four games were decided by a total of six goals.
• Bucknell is 0-4 against ranked opponents this year. The Bison will face No. 14 Michigan and No. 15 Hartwick on Sunday.
• Senior captain Aubrey Rowe totaled 11 goals, 11 assists and 13 steals at the Princeton Invitational last weekend. She shared the CWPA Southern Division Player of the Week honor following her performance. Rowe is now third in Bucknell history in career goals (166) and points (269) and fourth in assists (103). The Carlisle, Pa., native is second in career steals, just one behind record-holder Meg Blitzer's 199.
• Junior Valentina Rozas enters the weekend with a chance to go over the 200-point plateau for her career. She currently ranks ninth in program history with 192.
• Freshman Amanda Skonezney has won a remarkable 31 of 44 sprints this season. She is fifth on the Bison single-season list in sprints won. Last year Kandis Canonica led Bucknell, winning 17 of 52 sprints.
• Bucknell head coach John Abdou will coach his 50th game at the helm of the Bison on Sunday against Hartwick. Abdou enters the weekend with a 32-15 career record.
• Bucknell is 5-0 this year when scoring at least 10 goals. The Bison have won 32 consecutive games when netting double-figure goals.
• Bucknell is in the midst of its second two-game winning streak of the season. The Bison have not won three in a row since posting an eight-game streak last March.
Bison on Career Record Lists
Kandis Canonica: Assists (8th, 74)
Alison Carter: Saves (4th, 350)
Rachel McGillis: Saves (5th, 155)
Shana Palencia: Sprints Won (6th, 38)
Aubrey Rowe: Points (3rd, 269), Goals (3rd, 166), Assists (4th, 103), Steals (2nd, 198), Ejections Drawn (3rd, 118), Shots (3rd, 388), Games Played (t-10th, 104), Games Started (t-6th, 98), Sprints Won (5th, 48)
Valentina Rozas: Points (9th, 192), Goals (7th, 142), Ejections Drawn (2nd, 170), Shots (8th, 331)
Bucknell's Weekly Awards in 2009
CWPA Southern Division Player of the Week
- Valentina Rozas (Jan. 26)
- Aubrey Rowe (Feb. 9, Feb. 23 – co-player)
CWPA Southern Division Rookie of the Week
- Amanda Skonezney (Jan. 26)
- Hallie Kennan (Feb. 9)
Bucknell vs. Weekend Opponents
• Bucknell vs. Harvard: Bucknell leads, 6-4 (Bucknell has won three straight, including 14-13 last Sunday)
• Bucknell vs. Michigan: Michigan leads, 11-0 (Last two meetings decided by one goal)
• Bucknell vs. Hartwick: Hartwick leads, 6-1 (Bucknell's lone win came in 2005 over then-No. 14 Hawks)
Opponents' 2009 Records
• Harvard: 3-3
• Michigan: 8-7
• Hartwick: 4-6
Up Next
• Bucknell will play at George Washington next Thursday, March 5, just prior to its annual Spring Break trip to California. The Bison will then play 10 games in California during a week-long stay in the state from March 7-14.
