Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Villanova
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Opens Final Day of Bison Invitational with Easy 9-4 Win Over Villanova
2/17/2013 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 17, 2013
| BUY PHOTOS
LEWISBURG, Pa. -Freshman Hannah Sunday scored four goals and the Bucknell women's water polo team built an 8-0 lead en route to an easy 9-4 victory over Villanova Sunday morning in Kinney Natatorium. The Bison improved to 3-1 on the season and during the season-opening Bison Invitational, which wraps up Sunday evening. Bucknell will play at 3:45 vs. Marist to conclude its five-game weekend.
Sunday, who had five goals Friday against Mercyhurst and leads the Bison with 12 goals this season, scored two times in each half to lead the workmanlike performance by Bucknell. She also dished out an assist, giving her two five-point games this weekend.
The Bison defense was strong as Villanova (0-9) didn't net its first goal until 35 seconds remained in the third quarter. Rena Heim equaled her season high with 12 saves in cage for Bucknell. She now has 44 saves against 28 goals allowed this weekend.
The Wildcats did tally four of the game's final five goals with Callan Edwards recording two of those.
Both teams struggled in six-on-five situations as Bucknell was 2-for-8 and Villanova was 2-for-10, leading to the first Bison game in 2013 where the winning team did not reach double figures in goals.
Bucknell head coach John McBride employed a lineup of all freshmen during the entire fourth quarter. The freshman class of Katherine DeRuff, Katie Fester, Eleanor Marrs, Martine McCarthy, Emily Nowlin and Sunday played the final eight minutes and gained valuable game experience on the first weekend of the regular season.
Bucknell is now 17-6 all-time against Villanova and has won 15 straight in the series.
The start times of the final three games of the Bison Invitational have been moved up approximately 25 minutes, meaning the Bison will wrap up the weekend at 3:45 p.m. vs. Marist. The Hartwick-Princeton game is now scheduled for 4:55 p.m. and the Villanova-George Washington game is slated for 6:05 p.m.
VILLANOVA 0 0 1 3 -4
BUCKNELL 2 2 4 1 -9
Goals: Sunday (4), Valdes, Ferry, Peterson, Morgan, Marrs.
Assists: Ferry (2), Marrs (2), Valdes, Murao, Sunday.
Field Blocks: Barnett, Peterson.
Ejections Drawn: Morgan (5), Sunday (2), Smith, Nowlin.
Saves: Heim (12 svs., 4 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Ovalle, Valdes, Smith, Bozorghadad, Sunday, Peterson, Marrs, Fester, Heim.
Sprints: Ovalle (2-3), Marrs (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 3-1.
