Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#19 UC San Diego
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Splits Two Games at UC Santa Barbara Gaucho Invitational
3/7/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 7, 2009
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – On its first day of competition in California, the Bucknell women's water polo team split a pair of games at the UC Santa Barbara Gaucho Invitational. The Bison lost to No. 19 UC San Diego, 10-7, in their opener. They then defeated Pacific 9-8 in their second game of the two-day tournament.
Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) and Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) paced the Bucknell (8-9) offense all day. Rozas tallied three goals in both games and netted the game-winner against Pacific with 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Canonica totaled nine assists, including a season high-tying five against Pacific. She also scored one goal for a team-high 10 points on the day.
Against UC San Diego, Rozas had a solid all-around day with four steals and five ejections drawn. However, the Bison were outscored 3-0 in the second quarter and 3-1 in the fourth. Bucknell did have 14 steals in the game with Amanda Skonezney (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) adding three apiece to combine with Rozas for 10 thefts.
Bucknell and Pacific played a very close game in the second contest as the Bison outscored their opponent 2-1 in the first quarter. After that, the two teams had matching scores in each quarter.
Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) tied Rozas for the team lead with three goals, including one as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter. That goal gave the Bison a 6-5 advantage entering the final frame.
Alison Carter and Rachel McGillis split time in goal with Carter playing the first half of each game and McGillis the second. Carter totaled 11 saves on the day, while McGillis had five.
Skonezney, who has moved up to third on Bucknell's single-season sprints won list, continued her stellar job in that category this year as she won 6 of 8 sprints Saturday. She has now claimed 44 of 66 this season.
Bucknell will play two more games at the tournament on Sunday, but its opponent and game times will not be decided until the conclusion of Saturday's play.
Game 1
BUCKNELL 2 0 4 1 -7
SAN DIEGO 2 3 2 3 -10
Goals: Rozas (3), Palencia, Vallis, Prickett, Rowe.
Assists: Canonica (4), Palencia, Rowe.
Ejections Drawn: Rozas (5), Canonica (3), Skonezney (2), Vallis.
Saves: Carter (5 svs., 5 ga., 16:00 min.), McGillis (2 svs., 5 ga., 16:00 min.)
Steals: Rozas (4), Skonezney (3), Prickett (3), Carter (2), Palencia, Rowe.
Sprints: Skonezney (3-4).
Bucknell Record: 7-9
Game 2
BUCKNELL 2 0 4 3 -9
PACIFIC 1 0 4 3 -8
Goals: Rozas (3), Palencia (3), Rowe (2), Canonica.
Assists: Canonica (5), Prickett (2), Vallis, Rowe.
Ejections Drawn: Canonica (3), Palencia, Vallis, Rozas.
Saves: Carter (6 svs., 1 ga., 16:00 min.), McGillis (3 svs., 7 ga., 16:00 min.)
Steals: Skonezney (2), Canonica (2), Palencia, Rozas, Prickett.
Sprints: Skonezney (3-4).
Bucknell Record: 8-9
