Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Princeton
Strong Third Quarter Leads Women's Water Polo to 7-5 Win Over Marist to Conclude Bison Invite
2/16/2014 6:02:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's water polo team bounced back from a 10-3 loss to No. 8 Princeton earlier in the day to defeat Marist by a 7-5 score Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Bison Invitational in Kinney Natatorium. The Bison broke a 4-4 halftime tie with a three-goal third quarter en route to evening their record on the weekend at 2-2.
Senior co-captains Mackenzie Ferry and Julianne Valdes contributed three goals apiece in the win over the Red Foxes. Hannah Sunday's rebound goal on Bucknell's (2-2) first possession got the scoring started for the Bison.
While the three-goal third quarter was a key to victory, so was the Bucknell defense, especially in the second half. Marist (4-8) scored just one goal after halftime and went 12 minutes, 49 seconds at one point without a goal. Bison third-year starting goalkeeper Rena Heim posted 10 saves in cage, her second double-figure performance of the weekend.
The score was close throughout the first half as there were three ties and the largest lead was Bucknell's at 3-1 following a Ferry six-on-five score. The Red Foxes tallied three goals over the final 5:12 of the first half, including the equalizing score on a penalty shot by Amanda Amorosa with 1:32 left. Amorosa finished with a team-high three goals for Marist, which never led in the contest.
Two of Ferry's goals came on six-on-five chances, including one with 30 seconds left in the third quarter that gave the Bison their largest lead at 7-4.
Bucknell was especially strong early in each quarter as five of its seven goals came within the first two minutes of periods.
The win against Marist helped lift the Bison to 12-2 all-time in the series and was a much-needed improvement from the performance earlier in the day when Princeton (7-0) jumped out to a 10-0 lead before allowing three goals in the fourth quarter. The Tigers were a solid 6-for-7 in six-on-five chances and converted a penalty shot. Princeton standout goalie Ashleigh Johnson recorded four saves in 24 minutes and exited the game with the score at 10-0.
Eleanor Marrs (2) and freshman Julia Ingersoll netted fourth-quarter goals against the Tigers for Bucknell, which was 0-for-4 with a six-on-five advantage.
Bucknell opened the Bison Invitational Saturday with a split against Villanova (W, 10-7) and a loss to No. 20 Hartwick (L, 13-6).
The Bison will hit the road for the first time next weekend when they travel to Cambridge, Mass., for the CWPA/MAAC Crossover. Bucknell will take on Villanova, Iona, Wagner and Siena during the two-day event.
Game 1
PRINCETON 5 3 2 0 -10
BUCKNELL 0 0 0 3 -3
Goals: Marrs (2), Ingersoll.
Assists: Marrs, Stanbach.
Field Blocks: Valdes.
Ejections Drawn: Sunday, Bozorghdad, Barnett, Stanbach.
Saves: Heim (2 svs., 8 ga., 16:00 min.), Derrod (1 sv., 2 ga., 16:00 min.).
Steals: Ferry (2), Valdes, Stanbach, Sunday, Marrs, Deana.
Sprints: Marrs (2-2), Ovalle (1-2).
Bucknell Record: 1-2.
Game 2
MARIST 1 3 0 1 -5
BUCKNELL 1 3 3 0 -7
Goals: Ferry (3), Valdes (3), Sunday.
Assists: Marrs (2), Peterson.
Field Blocks: Ferry (2), Peterson (2).
Ejections Drawn: Sunday (3), Barnett (2), Ferry, Stanbach.
Saves: Heim (10 svs., 5 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Valdes, Bozorghadad.
Sprints: Valdes (2-2), Ovalle (1-1), Marrs (1-1).
Bucknell Record: 2-2.
