Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Brown
Women's Water Polo Bounces Back to Take 7-6 Win over Brown
4/6/2014 1:28:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's water polo team bounced back from a tough loss to George Washington in Saturday's second game to take a strong, 7-6 win over Brown on Sunday afternoon at Kinney Natatorium. Senior Mackenzie Ferry led the squad with three goals and an assist, while senior Rena Heim withstood the Bears' flurry of shots, making a season-high 15 saves in the cage. The victory lifts Bucknell to 10-11 overall and 3-2 in the CWPA Southern Division, while Brown drops to 15-14 overall and 3-2 in conference play with the defeat.
In addition to Ferry, senior Julianne Valdes, senior Stephanie Ovalle and sophomore Hannah Sunday all scored at least once in the contest, while Valdes had a team-high two assists. Ferry, junior Sayeh Bozorghadad and sophomore Eleanor Marrs all made field blocks in a strong defensive effort, while Sunday chipped in with six ejections drawn, creating significant opportunities for the offense, which scored five times with the 6-5 advantage. The Bison were outshot 31-26, but Heim's strength in goal resulted in the favorable outcome.
The Bison got on the board quickly, as Valdes scored twice in the first two minutes to give them a 2-0 advantage. Brown responded with an unassisted tally, but Bucknell answered with one of its own, maintaining the two-goal lead. The Bears connected once more before the stanza ended however, keeping things close as the teams headed into the second quarter.
Bucknell outscored Brown 2-1 in each of the next two stanzas, with Valdes assisting on extra-player goals by Ovalle and Ferry in the second eight minutes of play. The Bears scored first in the third, narrowing the Bison's lead to one, but Sunday tallied an unassisted goal with 2:21 on the clock and Ferry scored off a feed from Ovalle with 1:36 remaining, putting Bucknell up 7-4 as the teams headed into the final quarter.
The Bears would not go away quietly, scoring twice in the final eight minutes, but the Bison made a crucial field block and caused a turnover on the visitor's final possession, escaping with the one-goal win.
Bucknell will return to action next weekend for the CWPA Southern Championships, which will be hosted by Harvard on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13.
BUCKNELL 3 2 2 0 -7
BROWN 2 1 1 2 -6
Goals: Ferry (3), Valdes (2), Ovalle, Sunday.
Assists: Valdes (2), Ovalle, Ferry, Marrs.
Field Blocks: Ferry, Bozorghadad, Marrs.
Ejections Drawn: Sunday (6), Valdes (2), Deana.
Saves: Heim (15 svs., 6 ga., 32:00 min).
Steals:Valdes (2), Ovalle, Ferry.
Sprints: Deana (1-1), Marrs (1-2), Ovalle (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 10-11, 3-2 CWPA Southern Division.
