March 15, 2008

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Behind three goals from Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and a five-goal second half, the No. 20 Bucknell women's water polo team completed a perfect first day at the Claremont Convergence with a low-scoring 6-2 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The Bison defeated Cal State San Bernardino 13-11 earlier in the day in a game in which Rowe totaled three goals and three assists.

Bucknell's game with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was delayed approximately 20 minutes due to lightning and the game was played with a thick fog hovering over the pool. The win helped the Bison improve to 16-4 this year and tied interim head coach John Abdou with long-time head coach John Zeigler for most wins by a rookie head coach in program history. Zeigler led Bucknell to a 16-14 record in 2000, his first year at the helm.

The six goals for Bucknell equaled its season low, and it was the lowest score in a Bison win since they defeated Harvard 6-3 at the Eastern Championship to close the 2007 campaign. The last time Bucknell held an opponent to two goals or less was March 14, 2006 when it shut out Macalester in a 10-0 victory.

Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) helped Rowe shoulder the offensive load as she contributed two goals and a pair of assists for a team-high four points. She now has a team-high 43 assists this year, placing her third on Bucknell's single-season list.

Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) rounded out the Bison offense with one goal and one assist.

Rachel McGillis (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) played the entire game in goal and made nine saves. She allowed single goals in the second and third quarters to the Athenas.

Bucknell, which is in the midst of a seven-game Spring Break trip to California during which it has gone 3-2, will wrap up play at the Claremont Convergence Sunday with games against Pomona-Pitzer and Redlands. Pomona-Pitzer is the top-ranked team in Division III, while Redlands is No. 5.

BUCKNELL                                        1 0 3 2 -6
CLAREMONT-MUDD-SCRIPPS       0 1 1 0 -2

Goals: Rowe (3), Canonica (2), Prickett.
Assists: Canonica (2), Prickett.
Ejections Drawn: Gins (2), Rozas (2), Allen (2), Rowe.
Saves: Mcgillis (9 svs., 2 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Rowe (3), Palencia, Gins, Swoyer, Prickett, McGillis.
Sprints: Allen (1-2), Palencia (0-1), Canonica (0-1).
Record: 16-4