March 30, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. - It needed overtime to do it, but the Bucknell women's water polo team extended its winning streak to eight as it came from behind to defeat Maryland 7-6 Sunday afternoon at Kinney Natatorium. Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) bounced in the winning goal with 57 seconds left in overtime.

It was a thrilling end to an impressive weekend for the Bison, who went 4-0 in a span of just over 40 hours. Bucknell, which improved to 22-4, is now one win shy of equaling the program record for victories in a season as well as the longest winning streak.

Palencia's goal, her second of the contest, came from just inside of five meters and gave the Bison their only lead. Maryland (18-9) had led for all but 4:54 of the first 30 minutes of play before Bucknell tied the score for the fourth time with 2:04 remaining in regulation.

Bucknell's Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) evened the score in the final minutes of regulation with her 42nd goal of the season. The two teams alternated goals the entire fourth quarter, during which there were three ties.

Alison Carter registered a career-high 14 saves Sunday againt Maryland.

The Bison had a great chance to win the game in regulation as goalie Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor), who recorded a career-high 14 saves in perhaps the best game of her young career, made a length-of-the-pool pass to Whitney Allen (Hillsborough, Calif./Hoover) who drew a penalty on Blaise Stanicic. Palencia lined up for the penalty shot with 37 seconds left on the clock, but the attempt bounced off the right post and settled in the water just short of the goal line before goalie Anna Gossett scooped it up for the Terrapins.

Gins and Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) both picked up two ejections in the first quarter, relegating them to the bench for the entire second quarter. Despite that fact, the Bison trailed just 3-2 at halftime with Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) netting both first-half goals. She finished with a team-high three to vault her season total to a whopping 57, which is good for ninth on Bucknell's single-season list.

Senior Meagan Gins (left) and Jennifer Swoyer played in their final regular-season game at Kinney Natatorium on Sunday.

Gins, who registered one goal and one assist, and Jennifer Swoyer (Erie, Pa./McDowell), who totaled a team-high five steals, were honored prior to the game in Senior Day ceremonies. It was their final regular-season home game, although they will play at Kinney Natatorium on April 19 in the Southern Championships.

Christen Vagts led Maryland with two goals in the game, while Gossett tallied 14 saves to match Carter.

The overtime win was the first for the Bison since defeating Cal-Baptist 13-12 last March. It also helped them improve to 12-1 at home over the last 13 games, and to 36-10 all-time.

By winning against league foes Princeton, George Washington and Maryland this weekend, Bucknell is now 3-0 in CWPA Southern Division play halfway through its league schedule. It also snapped a three-game losing streak to the Terrapins.

The Bison will next be in action on Saturday, April 5, when they travel to Princeton, N.J., to face nationally ranked Princeton (12 p.m.) and Brown (5:30 p.m.).

MARYLAND    2 1 1 2 0 -6
BUCKNELL     1 1 1 3 1 -7

Goals: Rozas (3), Palencia (2), Gins, Swoyer.
Assists: Palencia, Gins, Canonica.
Ejections Drawn: Allen (4), Rozas (3), Palencia (2), Canonica (2), Gins, Vallis, Rowe.
Saves: Carter (14 svs., 6 ga., 38:00 min.).
Steals: Swoyer (5), Palencia (4), Rozas (3), Carter (3), Vallis (2), Rowe (2), Canonica.
Sprints: Canonica (0-3), Rowe (0-2), Palencia (0-1).
Record: 22-4, 3-0 CWPA Southern Division