Maryland Advances to Semifinals of CWPA Eastern Championship with Win Over Bucknell
4/24/2009 8:00:00 AM | Water Polo
April 24, 2009
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The University of Maryland women's water polo team moved into the semifinals of the CWPA Eastern Championship with a come-from-behind 15-11 win over sixth-seeded Bucknell (18-15) in Friday's opening-round action.
Trailing 6-4 after one period of play, Maryland (15-12) chipped away at the deficit to pull even at 7-all with 2:22 remaining in the second courtesy an exclusion goal by Blaise Stanicic. The tie lasted until the 44-second mark as Rachel Jordan tallied her game-high tying fourth goal to give the Terrapins an 8-7 lead.
Allison Beck added to the lead with an exclusion goal at the 7:27 mark of the third period, but the Bison stormed back to tied the game at 9-9 thanks to even-strength markers by Amanda Skonezney and Valentina Rozas at 6:11 and 4:54, respectively.
Maryland's Elizabeth Hopkins snapped a 10-all tie at the 1:54 mark and Beck buried a penalty shot at the 38-second mark, giving the Terps a two-goal advantage.
The Terps tacked on three insurance goals in the final period.
Beck had three goals with Hopkins and Shannon Simerly chipping in two apiece for Maryland.
Aubrey Rowe led the Bison with four goals.
The third-seeded Terps move on to face No. 2 seed Michigan (31-8) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Harvard's Blodgett Pool.
The winner of that game will face the victor of the Hartwick-Brown contest on Sunday (2:30 p.m.) with an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship on the line.
No. 20 Maryland 15, Bucknell 11
1 2 3 4 F Bucknell 6 1 3 1 11 Maryland 4 3 5 3 15
Maryland Goals: Rachel Jordan (4); Allison Beck (3); Shannon Simerly (2); Elizabeth Hopkins (2); Elina Goldenberg; Carly Hoshko; Blaise Stanicic; Christen Vagts
Bucknell Goals: Aubrey Rowe (4); Shana Palencia (2); Amanda Skonezney (2); Valentina Rozas (2); Haley Prickett
Saves: Maryland - Ashleigh Jobson (5) ; Bucknell - Rachel McGillis (5)
Ejections: Maryland - 15 ; Bucknell - 13
Sprints: Maryland - Elizabeth Hopkins (4); Bucknell - None
Material from the CWPA Web site contributed to this story
