Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Harvard
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens Elite Six Invitational with 11-9 Loss to Harvard
2/28/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 28, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) scored three goals and Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) registered a season-high five assists, but the Bucknell women's water polo team dropped an 11-9 decision to Harvard Saturday evening at Kinney Natatorium in its first game at the Elite Six Invitational. The Bison led 8-7 late in the third quarter, but the Crimson netted four of the final five goals in the game.
Bucknell (6-6) had defeated Harvard (4-4) by one goal last Sunday, but it fell behind early as the Crimson scored the first three goals of the contest. The Bison, who were playing their first game in the two-day event, battled back to tie the score at 5-5 at the half. Four different players scored the first four goals for Bucknell.
Amanda Skonezney (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) scored back-to-back goals less than three minutes apart in the third quarter to give the Bison an 8-7 advantage, just their second lead of the contest. A goal by Shannon Purcell just before the third quarter buzzer tied the score again and the Bison never reclaimed the lead.
Bucknell, which will play a pair of ranked teams on Sunday, played much of the game without senior captain Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley), who was whistled for two first-half ejections and spent much of the third quarter on the bench. She then fouled out of the game early in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 8-8.
Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) added two goals and one assist to the Bison offensive attack.
Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) played the whole game in goal for Bucknell and made seven saves.
The Bison will wrap up play at the Elite Six Invitational on Sunday with games against No. 14 Michigan (11 a.m.) and No. 15 Hartwick (3:30 p.m.). A total of five games will be played at Kinney Natatorium on Sunday with the first commencing at 8 a.m.
HARVARD 4 1 3 3 -11
BUCKNELL 2 3 3 1 -9
Goals: Rozas (3), Skonezney (2), Prickett (2), Palencia, Rowe.
Assists: Canonica (5), Palencia, Shopiro, Prickett.
Ejections Drawn: Rozas (3), Canonica (3), Palencia (2), Prickett (2), Skonezney, Vallis, Rowe.
Saves: Carter (7 svs., 11 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Rozas (2), Carter (2), Palencia, McNally, Canonica, Prickett, Rowe.
Sprints: Skonezney (3-4).
Bucknell Record: 6-6
