Feb. 9, 2008

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Behind four goals apiece from Jennifer Swoyer (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) the Bucknell women's water polo team easily defeated UC Santa Cruz 18-8 in its second game at the Hilton Hotels Colorado State Invitational Saturday afternoon. The 18 goals were one shy of the program record of 19.

Swoyer's four goals were a career high, while Prickett, a freshman, eclipsed her two-goal total from earlier in the day against Marist. Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) and Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) added three goals apiece for Bucknell, which defeated Marist 12-6 earlier in the day and improved to 2-0 for the second time in three years.

Sophomores Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) and Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) rounded out the Bison scoring with two goals apiece.

In addition to her three goals, Rowe added three assists, equaling her highest total from 2007.

Bucknell scored at least four goals in every period as it sprinted to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 8-3 at halftime. The Bison then led 13-4 following three quarters before the Banana Slugs tallied four goals in the final period. The 10-goal margin of victory was the most for Bucknell since defeating Macalester 10-0 in March of 2006.

Rachel McGillis (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) made her third career start in goal and registered a career-high 10 saves.

Bucknell will wrap up its first day of play at the Hilton Hotels Colorado State Invitational Saturday at 7:45 p.m. (Eastern) against host Colorado State. The Bison have clinched one of the top two positions in the field, meaning they will play in the first game of the day on Sunday morning.

UC SANTA CRUZ  0 3 1 4 -8
BUCKNELL           4 4 5 5 -18

Goals: Swoyer (4), Prickett (4), Gins (3), Rowe (3), Palencia (2), Rozas (2).
Assists: Rowe (3), Canonica (2), Gins, Vallis, Rozas, Prickett, McGillis
Ejections Drawn: Prickett (3), Gins (3), Canonica (2), Swoyer, Rozas, Rowe.
Saves: McGillis (10 svs., 8 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Swoyer (4), Gins (2), Rozas (2), Allen (2), Rowe (2), Vallis, Prickett.
Sprints: Canonica (2-2), Palencia (1-1), Allen (1-1).
Record: 2-0