Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Maryland
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Topped by Maryland and George Washington
4/10/2011 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 10, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's water polo team faced former league opponents Maryland and George Washington in back-to-back games on Sunday afternoon and came away with a pair of losses. The Bison dropped game one to the Terrapins, 15-9, and then 25 minutes later were back in the pool to face the Colonials and lost, 11-9.
Bucknell (10-14) posted a third-quarter comeback in both games, but was unable to overcome a seven-goal halftime deficit against Maryland and a four-goal intermission deficit opposite George Washington. The Bison had a cumulative 7-2 edge in the third quarters, but were outscored 24-11 in the other three periods.
Bucknell, which never led in either game, did draw to within one (9-8) of George Washington midway through the fourth quarter. However, the Colonials answered back with a pair of six-on-five goals in the next 90 seconds to take a three-goal advantage with 3:17 to play. George Washington finished the contest 6-for-9 in man-up situations.
The George Washington game featured three almost-goals for the Bison as three times the ball nearly floated past the goal line, but each time the Colonials' goalie, who made 11 saves, swiped the ball up before the referee could signal a goal.
Hallie Kennan (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) totaled three goals vs. Maryland and a goal and three assists opposite the Colonials to have the most productive offensive day for a Bison player. She now has a team-high 70 points on the year, and her 24 assists this season are a new career high.
Both Bucknell goalies - Rena Heim (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and Brittany Connell (Montebello, Calif./Montebello) - started and played a whole game on Sunday. Heim posted her second consecutive eight-save contest against Maryland (13-13), while Connell stopped seven shots against George Washington.
The Bison finished the day 7-for-20 in six-on-fives, while opponents were 8-for-14. Becca Shopiro (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) drew three ejections against George Washington (6-13), marking the most in a game for a Bucknell player on Sunday.
The Bison will wrap up their regular season next weekend when they play Mercyhurst and Gannon at Gannon on Saturday and then host nationally ranked Hartwick at Kinney Natatorium on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Game 1
MARYLAND 5 5 1 4 -15
BUCKNELL 2 1 4 2 -9
Goals: Kennan (3), Ovalle, Ferry, Shopiro, Canonica, Prickett, Frankeny.
Assists: Valdes (2), Prickett (2), Murao, Canonica.
Field Blocks: Ferry, Shopiro.
Ejections Drawn: Valdes (2), McNally (2), Canonica (2), Prickett (2), Ovalle, Murao, Carroll.
Saves: Heim (8 svs., 15 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Valdes (3), Heim (2), Ovalle, Ferry, Murao, Prickett.
Sprints: Ovalle (1-3), Skonezney (1-1).
Bucknell Record: 10-13.
Game 2
GEORGE WASHINGTON 4 4 1 2 -11
BUCKNELL 2 2 3 2 -9
Goals: Ferry (2), Valdes, Smith, Skonezney, Shopiro, McNally, Kennan, Morgan.
Assists: Kennan (3), Valdes, Smith, Canonica.
Field Blocks: Valdes.
Ejections Drawn: Shopiro (3), Smith (2), Skonezney, Canonica, Kennan, Frankeny.
Saves: Connell (7 svs., 11 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Prickett (3), Kennan (2), Ferry, Canonica.
Sprints: Ovalle (2-4).
Bucknell Record: 10-14.
