Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#11 Long Beach State
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Drops 13-4 Decision to No. 11 Long Beach State
3/15/2011 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 15, 2011
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Playing its first nationally ranked opponent of the season, the Bucknell women's water polo team saw its three-game winning streak come to an end as it lost to No. 11 Long Beach State, 13-4, Wednesday evening. The Bison fell to 7-6 on the season.
The 49ers, who won for the sixth time in their last nine games to improve to 8-10 on the season, outscored Bucknell 5-0 in the first half. The Bison's four goals were a season low.
Bucknell earned plenty of chances as it had 14 six-on-five opportunities, but converted just two. Julianne Valdes (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) and Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) drew three ejections apiece, leading to nearly half of the man-up advantages.
Valdes was one of four Bison to net goals as Heather Smith (Redwood City, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep), Mackenzie Ferry (Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Hallie Kennan (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) also tallied. Three of the four goals were scored by freshmen as Kennan was the only upperclassman to score.
Rena Heim (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and Brittany Connell (Montebello, Calif./Montebello) split time in goal and each made four saves. Heim earned her fifth start of the year, while Connell played the second half.
Bucknell, which is in the midst of a seven-game trip to California, will take on No. 16 Cal State Northridge (5:15 p.m. Eastern) and Marist (7 p.m. Eastern) on Wednesday. The Bison beat Marist 10-7 in the seventh-place game at the ECAC Championship the final weekend of February.
BUCKNELL 0 0 2 2 -4
LONG BEACH STATE 3 2 3 5 -13
Goals: Valdes, Smith, Ferry, Kennan.
Assists: Skonezney, Canonica, Kennan.
Field Blocks: none.
Ejections Drawn: Valdes (3), Canonica (3), McNally (2), Kennan (2), Ferry, Murao, Frankeny.
Saves: Heim (4 svs., 5 ga., 16:00 min.), Connell (4 svs., 8 ga., 16:00 min.).
Steals: Smith (2), Skonezney, Shopiro, Kennan, Connell, Heim.
Sprints: Skonezney (0-2), Ovalle (1-1), Smith (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 7-6.
