Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
George Washington
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Advances to Southern Championships Title Game with 10-2 Win Over George Washington
4/24/2010 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 24, 2010
PRINCETON, N.J. - Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) and Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) combined to score seven goals as the Bucknell women's water polo team defeated George Washington, 10-2, in the first round of the Southern Championships Saturday at DeNunzio Pool. The win advances the Bison to Sunday's championship game against No. 19 Princeton, which defeated Maryland 7-6 on Saturday.
Bucknell (14-9), which is the top seed in the four-team field, earned an automatic berth to next weekend's Eastern Championship with the victory. The Bison are now aiming for their first Southern Championships crown. The only other time in program history they have been in the championship game was in 2008 when they lost to Princeton by one goal in overtime at Kinney Natatorium.
Bucknell avenged a consolation-game loss at last year's Southern Championships with its win on Saturday. Last year the Colonials upended the higher-seeded Bison 12-11 in overtime. This year it was a different story as Bucknell led 4-1 at halftime and proceeded to outscore George Washington (7-16) 6-1 in the second half.
Canonica tallied four goals, while Rozas scored three times and dished out three assists to equal her season high for points in a game. Both veterans now have 321 career points, which is tied for third in program history. Rozas also posted team highs in steals and ejections drawn with three apiece as she recorded a strong all-around contest.
Also scoring goals for Bucknell were Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover), Erica White (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) and Krystle Morgan (Rowland Heights, Calif./Rosary). The Bison had assists on all 10 of their goals.
On the defensive side of the pool, Bucknell recorded 12 steals and Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Beach) and Brittany Connell (Montebello, Calif./Montebello) combined for 10 saves. Carter posted nine saves in 28 minutes of playing time, while Connell held the Colonials scoreless and made one save in four minutes of relief. The two goals the Bison yielded were a season low and marked the fewest goals scored against them since a 14-1 win against Mercyhurst last February at the Princeton Open.
Bucknell and Princeton will meet in Sunday's championship game at 1 p.m. The Bison and Tigers split their season series with each squad winning in its home pool.
GEORGE WASHINGTON 1 0 1 0 -2
BUCKNELL 2 2 3 3 -10
Goals: Canonica (4), Rozas (3), Palencia, White, Morgan.
Assists: Rozas (3), White, Murao, Skonezney, McNally, Kennan, Morgan, Carter.
Field Blocks: None.
Ejections Drawn: Rozas (3), Canonica (2), Prickett.
Saves: Carter (9 svs., 2 ga., 28:00 min.), Connell (1 svs., 0 ga., 4:00 min.).
Steals: Rozas (3), Palencia (2), Skonezney (2), Shopiro (2), McNally, Prickett, Carter.
Sprints: Skonezney (2-4).
Record: 14-9.
