Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Maryland
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Drops First Contest at ECAC Championship to Maryland, 10-5
2/27/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 27, 2010
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Bucknell women's water polo defense accumulated 15 steals, but the offense managed just five goals as the eighth-seeded Bison lost their ECAC Championship opener to top-seeded Maryland 10-5 Saturday morning at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool. Bucknell, which can still finish as high as fifth in the eight-team field, will now play the loser of Saturday morning's Princeton-Iona game at 4 p.m.
For the second straight game the Bison fell behind early as the Terps led 6-2 after the first quarter and 7-2 at halftime. Bucknell (3-2), which trailed then-No. 19 Indiana 8-2 at the half in its last game, has now been outscored 15-4 in the first half of its two losses.
Amanda Skonezney (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) was the lone Bison to tally multiple goals as she netted a season high-tying two scores. Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep), Krystle Morgan (Rowland Heights, Calif./Rosary) and Shannon Carroll (Wilton, Conn./Loomis Chaffee) contributed a goal apiece as freshmen and sophomores combined for four of the team's five goals. Canonica dished out a team-high two assists and led the way with three points in the contest.
Senior co-captain Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) was held without a goal on just two shots. She failed to tally a goal just seven times last year and registered five goals in three games against Maryland (6-2) last season.
Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) stopped eight shots in goal for Bucknell. She also contributed three steals, tying freshman Tara Murao (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) for team-high honors. Five Bison posted multi-steal contests.
Carroll, a freshman, made her first career start for Bucknell, while junior Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) saw her first action of the season after sitting out the Bison Invitational two weeks ago with an injury.
Bucknell last competed at the ECAC Championship in 2008 and finished in first place. The two-day event wraps up on Sunday. The Bison will play in either the 10 or 11:30 a.m. consolation games, depending on their Saturday afternoon result against either Princeton or Iona.
BUCKNELL 2 0 3 0 -5
MARYLAND 6 1 2 1 -10
Goals: Skonezney (2), Canonica, Morgan, Carroll.
Assists: Canonica (2), Palencia, Rozas.
Field Blocks: None.
Ejections Drawn: Rozas (3), Murao, Skonezney, Prickett, Morgan, Carroll.
Saves: Carter (8 svs., 10 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Murao (3), Carter (3), Palencia (2), Skonezney (2), Prickett (2), White, Rozas, Canonica.
Sprints: Skonezney (0-4).
Record: 3-2.
