Feb. 10, 2008

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Bucknell women's water polo team completed an undefeated weekend and claimed the Hilton Hotels Colorado State Invitational title Sunday afternoon with a 12-8 victory over Marist. Earlier in the day the Bison defeated UC Santa Cruz 15-9 in the semifinals. Highlighting the day was the play of freshman Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep), who registered seven goals and two assists in the two games, as well as Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley), who moved into second place on Bucknell career points list.

Bucknell wrapped up the weekend with a 5-0 record, marking the best start to a season in program history. The Bison, who outscored their opponents 69-40 this weekend, netted at least 10 goals in each of their five games, marking their longest double-figure goals streak in two years.

Other Bucknell players had big offensive days in addition to Canonica. Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) tallied five goals and two assists, while Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) had four goals and three assists. Haley Prickett, who finished the weekend with 12 goals to equal Rozas for the team lead, produced five goals and one assist Sunday.

Rowe paced the offense with four goals and one assist in the semifinals against the Banana Slugs, a team Bucknell defeated 18-8 in round-robin play on Saturday. Canonica and Prickett each piled up three goals and one assist.

The Bison used a strong third quarter to open a commanding lead. They led 8-5 at halftime, but outscored UC Santa Cruz 5-2 in the third before coasting to their six-goal victory.

Jennifer Swoyer (Erie, Pa./McDowell), who finished the weekend with 15 steals to tie Rozas for team-high honors, had three thefts against the Banana Slugs.

Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) and Rachel McGillis (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) split time in goal. Carter started and made seven saves while yielding five goals. McGillis played the second half and made six saves and allowed four scores.

In the championship against the Red Foxes, a squad the Bison defeated 12-6 Saturday morning, Canonica led the way with a team-high four goals, while Rozas contributed three goals, two assists and a team-high four steals.

Gins registered one goal and two assists against Marist, upping her career point total to 260. She moved past Adrienne Schober and Elizabeth Jensen and into second place on the Bucknell career scoring list, just 22 points behind Meg Blitzer.

Despite playing its fifth game in less than 30 hours, Bucknell outscored Marist 4-1 in the fourth quarter after the Red Foxes trailed just 8-7 at the end of three quarters.

Carter made her fourth start of the weekend and posted a career-high 10 saves. She now has 29 this season after entering the weekend with just 40 in her career.

The Bison will return to the East Coast next weekend, Feb. 16-17, when they travel to Princeton, N.J., for the Princeton Invitational. The difficult schedule will feature Siena, San Diego State, Indiana and Michigan.

Semifinal
UC SANTA CRUZ    4 1 2 2 -9
BUCKNELL           3 5 5 2 -15

Goals: Rowe (4), Canonica (3), Prickett (3), Gins (2), Rozas (2), Swoyer.
Assists: Palencia, Canonica, Prickett, McBride, Rowe.
Ejections Drawn: Palencia (3), Allen (3), Gins, Rozas, McBride, Rowe.
Saves: Carter (7 svs., 5 ga., 16:00 min.), McGillis (6 svs., 4 ga., 16:00 min.).
Steals: Swoyer (3), Palencia (2), Gins (2), Rozas, Rowe.
Sprints: Canonica (2-2), Palencia (1-2).
Record: 4-0

Championship
MARIST           2 2 3 1 -8
BUCKNELL       3 1 4 4 -12

Goals: Canoncia (4), Rozas (3), Prickett (2), Swoyer (2), Gins.
Assists: Palencia (2), Gins (2), Rozas (2), Rowe (2), Canonica.
Ejections Drawn: Prickett (3), Canonica (2), Rowe (2), Gins, Swoyer, Rozas.
Saves: Carter (10 svs., 8 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Rozas (4), Swoyer (3), Rowe (3), Palencia, Allen.
Sprints: Canonica (0-2), Palencia (0-2).
Record: 5-0