April 19, 2008

Southern Championships Final Results

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Helen Meigs ended a classic women's water polo Southern Championships title game with a goal as the overtime buzzer sounded to lift Princeton to a 10-9 victory over Bucknell Saturday evening at Kinney Natatorium. Champion's goal was the third in a row for the Tigers, who overcame a two-goal deficit in overtime to claim their fourth Southern Championships crown in five years.

Bucknell (25-8) was looking for its first-ever Southern Championships trophy, but instead equaled the 2005 team for the best showing in program history at the event.

The two teams were separated by one goal or tied for 34:48 of the 38 minutes played in the hard-fought contest between teams that split the regular-season series, with each winning its home game by a scant on goal margin.

With the score tied 7-7 in the final two minutes of regulation, the Bison earned a pair of six-on-five opportunities, but failed to convert either, giving Princeton its chance to win the game in the final 30 seconds. However, Bucknell goalie Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) stopped a shot by Lauren Sabb with 25 seconds showing on the clock and sending the game to overtime. Seven off Carter's 12 saves in the contest came in the fourth quarter and overtime.

In overtime, the Bison came out on fire with Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) scoring twice in the first three-minute overtime period to give Bucknell its second two-goal advantage of the game at 9-7.However, Gins' point-blank goal with 15 seconds left in that first overtime period was the final goal of the game for Bucknell as Princeton (18-10) tallied three straight in the next period.

A goal by Claire Jacobson with 32 seconds left in overtime knotted the score for the seventh time in the contest (9-9). Bucknell took possession with a chance to win, and even earned a penalty shot with 11 seconds left when Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) drew her third ejection of the game. However, Jennifer Swoyer's (Erie, Pa./McDowell) potential game-winning heave from five meters was deflected by Natalie Kim. Swoyer had converted a penalty shot earlier in the game to give Bucknell a 3-2 advantage.

After a timeout, Princeton came down and immediately following Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) being whistled for a foul, Meigs lofted a shot from more than five meters away over the head of Carter. The ball crossed the goal line just as the buzzer that would have sent the game to sudden-death overtime sounded.

Until overtime, the only time a team led by more than one goal was late in the third quarter when Rozas and Gins scored back-to-back goals to give Bucknell a 7-5 lead. Princeton cut that lead to 7-6 when Sierra Schlelegle scored as the buzzer sounded signifying the end of the third period. The Tigers then tied the score when Phoebe Champion netted the only goal of the fourth quarter.

Gins led the Bison with four goals in the game, including two in overtime. Canonica, who broke the Bucknell single-season points record (105), registered two goals and an assists. Rozas contributed one goal and a pair of assists.

Even though the Bison lost the championship game, by virtue of finishing in the top two at Southerns, they earned an automatic berth to next weekend's Eastern Championship. The seeding and announcement of that eight-team field will take place Monday. Bucknell is one of five teams eligible for the Eastern Championship that showed up in the latest national rankings.

PRINCETON    2 1 3 1 0 3 -10
BUCKNELL     2 2 3 0 2 0 -9

Goals: Gins (4), Canonica (2), Palencia, Swoyer, Rozas.
Assists: Rozas (2), Rowe (2), Gins, Canonica.
Ejections Drawn: Rozas (3), Gins (2), Swoyer (2), Allen (2), Palencia.
Saves: Carter (12 svs., 10 ga., 38:00 min.).
Steals: Swoyer (3), Palencia (2), Canonica (2), Prickett (2), Rowe (2), Gins, Rozas, Allen, Carter.
Sprints: Palencia (3-3), Canonica (0-2), Swoyer (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 25-8