Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
George Washington
Bucknell Women's Water Polo Ends Season with 7-6 Win Over George Washington, Finishes Seventh at Eastern Championship
4/28/2013 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Senior Krystle Morgan scored both of her goals in the final three minutes and classmate Tara Murao dished out a career-high five assists to lead the Bucknell women's water polo team to a 7-6 victory over George Washington Sunday afternoon at Michigan's Canham Natatorium on the final day of the Eastern Championship. The win helped the Bison finish seventh in the 12-team tournament, their highest finish since a seventh-place showing in 2011.
Bucknell (8-19) trailed 6-5 with five minutes to play before Morgan netted the tying goal with 2:55 to play and then her six-on-five goal with 42 seconds left proved to be the winning score as the Bison completed the comeback in the back-and-forth contest.
Bucknell led 5-3 entering the fourth quarter, but George Washington (16-17) scored three goals in the first 3:10 to take its first lead since 3-2 early in the second period.
There were five ties in the contest that saw neither team lead by more than two goals the entire way.
Julianne Valdes matched Morgan for team-high honors with two goals, while Murao's five assists put her one shy of the single-game program record. Murao finished the campaign with a team-high 25 assists, while Valdes' 37 goals this season led the team. Her career point total is now 241, good for 10th in program history.
Goalie Rena Heim stopped 11 shots in cage, bringing her season total to 259. She finished the season with a strong .508 save percentage.
Bucknell's victory avenged two regular-season losses to George Washington. The Colonials defeated the Bison 10-9 at February's Bison Invitational and 11-3 in a conference game in Erie, Pa., in March.
Bucknell was the eighth seed at the Eastern Championship, while George Washington was the seventh seed. Second-seeded Princeton claimed the title over host Michigan.
BUCKNELL 1 3 1 2 -7
GEORGE WASHINGTON 2 1 0 3 -6
Goals: Valdes (2), Morgan (2), Smith, Barnett, Peterson.
Assists: Murao (5), Ovalle, Marrs.
Field Blocks: Ovalle, Barnett.
Ejections Drawn: Morgan (4), Valdes (2), Murao (2), Sunday (2).
Saves: Heim (11 svs., 6 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Ovalle (2), Valdes, Murao, Sunday, Morgan, Marrs, Heim.
Sprints: Ovalle (2-3), Murao (1-1).
Bucknell Record: 8-19.
