Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colorado State
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens 2012 Season with Pair of Losses at Princeton Invitational
2/11/2012 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 11, 2012
PRINCETON, N.J. –The Bucknell women's water polo team opened its 2012 season Saturday at the Princeton Invitational with a pair of losses. The Bison dropped their opener to Harvard by a 14-5 score and then lost the nightcap to Colorado State by a tighter 9-7 margin. Senior co-captain Hallie Kennan (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) registered two multiple-goal outings and tallied a team-high four goals on the day.
Playing its first season under new coach John McBride, Bucknell could not overcome early deficits in each game. Against the Crimson, the Bison were down 7-3 at halftime, while they trailed the Rams 6-1 after the first period.
Kennan provided the majority of Bucknell's offense opposite Harvard, scoring twice and assisting on two other goals for a team-high four points. With six points on the day, Kennan crossed the 200-point plateau for her career and now has 201. She also had four steals Saturday, tying her with fellow co-captain Amanda Skonezney (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) for the most on the squad.
Other highlights against Harvard included six ejections drawn by Krystle Morgan (Rowland Heights, Calif./Rosary) and Rena Heim's (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) second career double-figure save contest (10 saves). Heim played all 32 minutes in both games and registered 18 saves against 23 goals allowed.
Skonezney, Kennan and Morgan netted two goals apiece against Colorado State, but Bucknell was unable to overcome the early five-goal deficit despite holding the Rams to just one second-half goal. The Bison cut down on their turnovers from 16 against Harvard to just seven opposite Colorado State.
Bucknell will continue play at the Princeton Invitational Sunday with two more games. The Bison will take on George Washington at 8:30 a.m. and then close out the weekend at 12:15 p.m. against Mercyhurst.
Game 1
HARVARD 2 5 3 4 -14
BUCKNELL 2 1 2 0 -5
Goals: Kennan (2), Ovalle, Barnett, Morgan.
Assists: Kennan (2), Carroll.
Field Blocks: Ovalle, Ferry.
Ejections Drawn: Morgan (6), Valdes (2), Ovalle, Skonezney, Shopiro, Barnett, Carroll.
Saves: Heim (10 svs., 14 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Barnett (2), Kennan (2), Smith, Skonezney, Heim.
Sprints: Ovalle (3-4).
Bucknell Record: 0-1.
Game 2
COLORADO STATE 6 2 0 1 -9
BUCKNELL 1 1 3 2 -7
Goals: Kennan (2), Skonezney (2), Morgan (2), Valdes.
Assists: Skonezney (2), Ovalle, Valdes, Barnett.
Field Blocks: Valdes (2), Barnett.
Ejections Drawn: Valdes (3), Ovalle (2), Shopiro, Barnett, Murao, Kennan, Morgan.
Saves: Heim (8 svs., 9 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Skonezney (3), Kennan (2), Heim (2), Shopiro, Barnett, Morgan.
Sprints: Ovalle (3-4).
Bucknell Record: 0-2.
