Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Princeton
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Defeats Princeton 9-7 on National Television
3/28/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 28, 2009
PRINCETON, N.J. – Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) scored a game-high four goals and Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) registered six steals and the Bucknell women's water polo team held on to defeat league rival Princeton 9-7 Saturday morning at DeNunzio Pool in a game that was broadcast nationally on ESPNU. It was the fifth consecutive win for the second-place Bison, who are now 15-11 this year and 2-1 in CWPA Southern Division play.
The victory was Bucknell's second in 27 all-time meetings with Princeton. The last 11 meetings have been decided by a total of 18 goals and the Bison have now won two of the last four matchups.
Bucknell scored three goals in both the first and second quarters and held on for the two-goal victory. The Bison netted the first goal in the third period to take a commanding 7-3 lead early in the second half, but the Tigers scored three straight goals to cut their deficit to 7-6.
Palencia ended the Princeton scoring streak and gave Bucknell an 8-6 cushion when she scored her final goal with 1:45 remaining. On the next possession, the Bison's Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) earned a five-meter penalty shot. Rowe converted the attempt, putting the game out of reach at 9-6 with just over a minute to play.
Freshman Brittany Connell earned her first career start in goal for Bucknell and had a solid outing with a season high-equaling seven saves, three steals and an assist.
Rowe produced two goals and two assists to go along with her six steals. Canonica added two goals, giving the Bison three multiple-goal scorers. Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) dished out a team-high three assists.
Lauren Brunner and Helen Meigs led Princeton (11-8, 1-2 CWPA) with two goals apiece.
Bucknell will be in action Friday, April 3, when it kicks off its final weekend of the regular season against this same Princeton team at 7:30 p.m. at Kinney Natatorium. Live video of the contest will be broadcast on Bison Vision. It is the first of four home games over the course of three days for the Bison.
BUCKNELL 3 3 1 2 -9
PRINCETON 1 2 2 2 -7
Goals: Palencia (4), Canonica (2), Rowe (2), Kennan.
Assists: Prickett (3), Rowe (2), Rozas, Connell.
Ejections Drawn: Rowe (3), Canonica.
Saves: Connell (7 svs., 7 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Rowe (6), Connell (3), Palencia (2), Kennan (2), Vallis, Rozas, Prickett.
Sprints: Skonezney (2-4).
Bucknell Record: 15-11, 2-1 CWPA Southern Division.
