April 25, 2008

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - For the second time in one week, and for the third time this season, the Bucknell women's water polo team suffered a close one-goal loss to Princeton, falling to the fifth-seeded Tigers 7-6 Friday afternoon in the first round of the Eastern Championship at Canham Natatorium. The fourth-seeded Bison, who are now 25-9 this season, will face Mercyhurst Saturday at 3:30 p.m. as they try to finish as high as fifth at the three-day event which decides the CWPA's representative in the NCAA Championship.

Bucknell, which defeated No. 20 Princeton (19-10) for the first time in program history on March 28, is now 1-25 against the Tigers, but each of the last 10 games have been decided by three goals or less.

Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led Bucknell with three goals and broke the program's single-season steals record with five thefts. She now has 82 this season to lead the team and place her ahead of Paige Cull, who had held the record of 80 since 2001.

Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) added one goal and three assists for a team-high four points. She now has 99 points on the season as she attempts to become the first two-time member of the 100-point club. The program's all-time leading scorer with 348 career points, Gins had a pair of shots in the final minutes that would have tied the score, but was unable to find the back of the net.

Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) stopped 10 shots and equaled her career high with six steals, which is the most by a Bucknell player this year.

The game was close throughout as the teams were tied at the end of the first quarter. After being outscored 3-1 in the second frame, the Bison held a 2-1 edge in the third quarter. Both squads netted one goal in the fourth.

Bucknell drew 13 ejections in the game, including five from Whitney Allen (Hillsborough, Calif./Menlo), but converted just four of its six-on-five opportunities.

Jennifer Swoyer (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) registered one goal apiece to round out the Bison scoring attack. Sophomores, juniors and seniors registered all six of Bucknell's goals and four of the team's five assists. Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) recorded the only point by a freshman as she tied the program's single-season record for assists with 58.

With its tight one-goal loss to Princeton, each of Bucknell's last five losses have come by one goal.

Bucknell will now face Mercyhurst at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The two programs have never met. If the Bison win that game they will advance to Sunday's fifth-place contest. Bucknell has finished higher than seventh at the Eastern Championship just one time in program history.

BUCKNELL    2 1 2 1 -6
PRINCETON   2 3 1 1 -7

Goals: Rowe (3), Gins, Swoyer, Rozas.
Assists: Gins (3), Palencia, Canonica.
Ejections Drawn: Allen (5), Rozas (3), Gins (2), Canonica, Prickett, Rowe.
Saves: Carter (10 svs., 7 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Carter (6), Rowe (5), Gins (3), Rozas (2), Palencia, Prickett, Allen.
Sprints: Palencia (2-2), Canonica (0-2).
Bucknell Record: 25-9