Feb. 17, 2008

PRINCETON, N.J. - Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) scored her career-high sixth goal with two seconds remaining to help the Bucknell women's water polo team to an 11-10 victory over No. 18 Indiana Sunday afternoon at the Princeton Invitational. The win was the first over a ranked opponent by the Bison, who improved to 7-2, since 2006.

Bucknell took a timeout with eight seconds left to set up a last-second shot and Rozas connected from about five meters out with two seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Bison to their second victory of the weekend. It was the first over a ranked foe since defeating the same Indiana squad in overtime at the 2006 Eastern Championship. Bucknell had lost 14 straight to ranked teams.

Rozas' six goals were a career high, and it marked the second consecutive day a Bucknell player scored as many as six goals in a game. Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) netted six goals Saturday against Siena. Last year no Bison player scored more than five goals in a game. Rozas' point total was also a career high, eclipsing her previous best by two.

After seeing a balanced scoring attack much of the early part of the season, Bucknell had just four players net goals against the Hoosiers. Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) found the back of the net three times, while Whitney Allen (Hillsborough, Calif./Menlo) and Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) each tallied one goal.

Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) and Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) did not register goals, but they combined for seven assists. Canonica had four, while Gins dished out three. Earlier in the day Bucknell lost to No. 15 Michigan, and Gins had four assists in that contest, giving her seven on the day. She now has 82 in her career, just two out of fifth place on the Bison career list. Canonica now has a team-high 16 assists through the first nine games of the season.

Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) played the entire game in goal and totaled a career-high 11 saves. She now has a team-high 53 on the year and is just seven away from 100 in her two-year career.

A strong second quarter bolstered Bucknell's chances to upset Indiana as the Bison outscored the Hoosiers 4-1 in the second frame to take a 7-4 lead into halftime. Indiana outscored Bucknell 3-1 in the third quarter, but Rozas' goal in the fourth clinched the win for the Bison.

The game featured plenty of six-on-five opportunities for both teams. Bucknell drew 11 ejections, including three apiece by Gins and Allen. Indiana drew 14.

Bucknell, which is off to its best start to a season since opening 2006 with an 8-1 record, will play four MAAC schools at the Maryland Invitational next weekend. The Bison are 28-11 all-time against their four opponents at the event, including 2-0 this year.

BUCKNELL    3 4 1 3 -11
INDIANA      3 1 3 3 -10

Goals: Rozas (6), Rowe (3), Palencia, Allen.
Assists: Canonica (4), Gins (3), Rozas, Allen, Rowe.
Ejections Drawn: Gins (3), Allen (3), Rozas (2), Rowe (2), Swoyer.
Saves: Carter (11 svs., 10 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Palencia (2), Allen (2), Carter (2), Gins, Prickett, Rowe.
Sprints: Allen (0-1), Canonica (0-1), Palencia (0-1), Swoyer (0-1)
Record: 7-2