Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Iona
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Concludes Harvard Invitational with 13-11 Loss to Iona
3/4/2012 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 4, 2012
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. –Julianne Valdes (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) scored a team-high three goals and three other Bison netted two goals apiece, but the Bucknell women's water polo team fell to Iona by a 13-11 score Sunday morning at the Harvard Invitational. The Bison fell to 8-8 on the year as they lost their second consecutive contest after putting together a five-game winning streak.
Bucknell, which defeated then-No. 20 Iona by a 12-10 score last weekend at the CWPA/MAAC Crossover, led the Gaels 4-3 after the first period, but Iona outscored the Bison 10-7 the rest of the way to re-take the advantage in the all-time series, which is now 6-5 in favor of Iona. Bucknell did have a couple chances to tie the score in the fourth quarter, but was unable to convert.
Valdes reached 20 goals on the season with her three scores Sunday. Taylor Barnett (Houston, Texas/Clear Lake), Tara Murao (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) and Becca Shopiro (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) each found the back of the net twice as the Bison lost a game when they reached double figures for the first time this season.
Hallie Kennan (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) recorded a career-high five assists and her six points were the most by a Bucknell player this year. She also collected three steals. Kennan now has a team-high 31 assists this year, and 100 for her career, ranking her sixth on the program's all-time list, one spot ahead of Valentina Rozas.
Rena Heim (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) posted seven saves in cage for the Bison. She moved past Rachel McGillis and into fifth place on the school's all-time saves list with 238 in her two-year career.
Bucknell will open an 11-game California road trip next weekend at the Roadrunner Invitational in Bakersfield, Calif. The Bison will face Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific, Long Beach State and Cal State Bakersfield at the two-day event.
IONA 3 4 2 4 -13
BUCKNELL 4 2 2 3 -11
Goals: Valdes (3), Barnett (2), Murao (2), Shopiro (2), Morgan, Kennan.
Assists: Kennan (5), Barnett, Murao, Peterson, Carroll.
Field Blocks: Valdes (2), Ovalle, Peterson.
Ejections Drawn: Valdes (4), Barnett, Murao, Peterson, Morgan.
Saves: Heim (7 svs., 13 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Murao (4), Kennan (3), Valdes, Smith.
Sprints: Valdes (1-1), Carroll (1-1), Ovalle (0-1), Peterson (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 8-8
