Feb. 20, 2005

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Maryland women's water polo team defeated Penn State-Behrend before falling to Michigan State on the second day of the Bucknell Invitational. The Terps finished 2-2 on the weekend after defeating Slippery Rock but losing to Marist Saturday.

Sophomore Orsi Ferenczy (Fot, Hungary) and junior Allison Kuzniar (St. Charles, Ill.) accounted for half of Maryland's scoring as they each recorded a hat trick in the Terps' 12-6 victory over Penn State-Behrend Sunday morning. The goals were Kuzniar's first three of the season, while they brought Ferenczy's total to four.

Senior Elyse Corwin (Orinda, Calif.) added two more goals, while senior Sarah Wahba (Crofton, Md.), junior Jenna Nader (Canonsburg, Pa.) and sophomore Audrey Lopez (Elkton, Md.) each scored their first on the season.

Freshman Allie Houseal (Harleysville, Pa.) registered five steals, while Ferenczy and junior Meghan Mulhern (Gaithersburg, Md.) each had three. Junior goalie Marissa Corwin (Orinda, Calif.) tallied two blocks and gave up one goal in the first quarter before sophomore Stacy Glantz (Roslyn, N.Y.) took over, recording six blocks and allowing the Lions' five remaining goals.

The Terps came out shooting from the start, scoring seven goals in the first quarter alone. The score was 7-1 after the first period and 10-3 at halftime.

"It was a much better defensive performance, and we got more scoring from more people," head coach Carl Salyer said. "Basically everyone got playing time, so everyone got experience."

In the second game of the day, the Terps fell to Michigan State, 5-2. Elyse Corwin scored Maryland's only two goals of the game, bringing her team-leading total to 16 in eight games. Marissa Corwin recorded 11 blocks, while allowing all five Spartan goals.

"It was a story of missed opportunities and not being able to score when we had the chance," Salyer said, alluding to the Terps' 18 missed shots.

Despite not taking advantage of scoring chances, Maryland stuck with Michigan State, who Salyer called "a very good program," despite being a club team. The Spartans led 2-1 after the first quarter and 4-1 at halftime.

"The game was a good measuring stick of where we are as a team," Salyer said. "It was a good weekend. The girls are coming a long way. They're playing better than even last week."

The Terps (3-5) return to the pool next weekend when they host the Terrapin Invitational at the Campus Recreation Center Natatorium in College Park. Maryland will take on Collegiate Water Polo Association Southern Division rival Bucknell at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25. They then will face division foe George Washington at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, before facing the Bison again at 5 p.m. and the New York Aquatic Club at 7 p.m.

Maryland 12, Penn State-Behrend 6
PSU Behrend   1   2   2   1    -- 6
Maryland      7   3   0   2    -- 12
PSU Behrend Goals: Ludwig (3), Yost (2), Puhala
Maryland Goals: Kuzniar (3), Ferenczy (3), Corwin (2), Nader, Lopez, Wahba, Houseal

Michigan State 5, Maryland 2
Maryland        1   0   1   0    -- 2
Michigan State  2   2   1   0    -- 5
Maryland Goals: Corwin (2)
Michigan State Goals: Clarin (2), Rigby (2), Barott