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Bucknell Women's Water Polo Advances to ECAC Championship Game with Wins over George Washington and Maryland
April 1, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Mallory Sullivan (Tulare, Calif./Tulare Western) scored four goals as the Bucknell women's water polo team defeated George Washington 8-7 and Elizabeth Jensen (San Mateo, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) tallied three opposite host Maryland in a 10-7 victory to help lead the Bison to their first-ever berth in the ECAC Championship Game. Bucknell posted both victories Saturday to improve to 19-5 this season. Bucknell, which finished fifth in 1999 and again last year, has never played in the ECAC Championship Game. It will face either top-seeded Princeton or fourth-seeded Wagner Sunday at 12:45 p.m. The Bison are the second seed in the balanced nine-team field. Sullivan's four scores led Bucknell in its opener against seventh-seeded George Washington. Four other Bison added a single goal apiece. The defensive pressure was key for Bucknell, as it recorded 11 steals in the contest. Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the way with four, while Sullivan added three. Meagan Gins (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) contributed two. Thanks to the defense in front of her, Mandy Bynum (San Jose, Calif./Leland) was called upon to make just three saves in goal. In the second game against the host Terrapins, Bucknell jumped out on top 3-0 at the end of the first period and 6-2 at halftime as it cruised to the victory. The Bison led 10-5 in the fourth quarter before Maryland tallied the final two goals of the game. Outside of Jensen's team-high three goals, Bucknell had a balanced attack against Maryland with seven other players netting one goals apiece. The Bison did convert four of their seven 6-on-5 opportunities against Maryland.
Bynum was more active in the nightcap, making 10 saves. Bucknell is now 3-0 against Maryland this season and 2-0 against George Washington. The Bison will meet both teams in league games next weekend. Looking ahead to Sunday's possible championship game opponents, Bucknell is 0-2 against Princeton, the No. 19 team in the nation and 1-0 against Wagner. Both of the Bison's losses to the Tigers have been by just one goal. With the two wins Saturday, Bucknell now has the second-most victories in program history behind last year's 23. The Bison have now won seven straight games and eight of their last nine. Sunday's championship game will be at 12:45 p.m. Princeton and Wagner play Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. to determine Bucknell's opponent. Game 1 - First Round Goals: Sullivan (4), Trimis, Gins, Jensen, Rowe. Game 2 - Semifinals Goals: Jensen (2), Stalker, Kingerski, Trimis, Gins, Eckert, Nogic, Sullivan, Rowe. |
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