Bucknell University
Azusa Pacific
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens West Coast Trip with Wins Over Azusa Pacific & Fresno Pacific
3/10/2012 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 10, 2012
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -The Bucknell women's water polo team opened its 11-game West Coast road trip with a pair of wins Saturday on the first day of the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunner Invitational. The Bison opened the day with a 14-10 victory over Azusa Pacific and followed that with an 8-4 win over Fresno Pacific. Bucknell combined to outscore its two opponents 13-4 in the first half of the two contests.
Julianne Valdes (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) had a solid day with three goals and six assists. Her four assists in the opener led the team, while her five points (3g, 2a) was a team-high total in the nightcap. Hallie Kennan (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) also had an impressive day on the offensive end with five goals and an assist. She was one of three Bison, along with Taylor Barnett (Houston, Texas/Clear Lake) and Barbara Peterson (Palo Alto, Calif./Castilleja), to register three goals against Azusa Pacific.
The 14 goals against Azusa Pacific equaled the second-highest total for the Bison this year.
While the offense was strong, the defense was also impressive on Saturday as Bucknell posted 14 steals in both games. Kennan equaled the most by a Bison in 2012 with five thefts in game one.
Rena Heim (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) totaled 16 saves, one assist and one steal in the two victories. She now has 131 stops on the season, eclipsing her freshman-year total from 2011.
Bucknell (10-8) was especially strong in man-advantage situations. The Bison were a combined 6-for-9 on Saturday. They allowed Azusa Pacific and Fresno Pacific to convert on just six of their 16 six-on-five opportunities.
Bucknell will wrap up competition at the Roadrunner Invitational Sunday with games against No. 19 Long Beach State (12:15 p.m. Eastern) and host Cal State Bakersfield (5:30 p.m.).
Game 1
AZUSA PACIFIC 2 1 5 2 -10
BUCKNELL 4 5 4 1 -14
Goals: Barnett (3), Kennan (3), Peterson (3), Bozorghadad (2), Morgan (2), Smith.
Assists: Valdes (4), Shopiro, Murao, Bozorghadad, Peterson, Kennan, Heim.
Field Blocks: Ovalle, Murao.
Ejections Drawn: Morgan (3), Murao (2), Ovalle, Valdes, Smith.
Saves: Heim (9 svs., 10 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Kennan (5), Valdes (2), Murao (2), Ferry, Bozorghadad, Peterson, Morgan, Heim.
Sprints: Valdes (4-4).
Bucknell Record: 9-8.
Game 2
FRESNO PACIFIC 1 0 2 1 -4
BUCKNELL 1 3 1 3 -8
Goals: Valdes (3), Kennan (2), Ovalle, Peterson, Morgan.
Assists: Valdes (2), Murao (2), Ferry, Peterson.
Field Blocks: none.
Ejections Drawn: Barnett (3).
Saves: Heim (7 svs., 4 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Peterson (3), Valdes (2), Shopiro (2), Barnett (2), Murao (2), Bozorghadad, Kennan, Carroll.
Sprints: Valdes (3-3), Ovalle (1-1).
Bucknell Record: 10-8.
