By Scott Padula
Writer
The women’s water polo team’s record sits at 10-10 after the Bison won one and dropped two last weekend in Princeton, N.J. The Orange and Blue lost their first two games to ranked opponents in Michigan and Princeton but bounced back and defeated St. Francis in an offensive showcase.
The Bison faced St. Francis in their final game of the weekend Sunday morning, winning 16-12. The teams remained close in the first three quarters, but the Orange and Blue offense exploded in the fourth, netting six goals. The 16 total goals marked a season high for the Orange and Blue as Kandis Canonica ’11 led all scorers with four goals and three assists. Hallie Kennan ’12, Haley Prickett ’11 and three other Bison also registered multiple points in the high-scoring affair. Led by Kennan on the defensive end, the Orange and Blue recorded a season high in steals, racking up 17 total.
In Saturday’s nightcap, the Orange and Blue lost 12-5 against the host Princeton Tigers. For the first time all season, the Bison faced two ranked opponents in one day. The Bison kept it close in the first half, but the No. 18 Tigers pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Bison 5-1 en route to victory. Kennan and Prickett each notched two goals in the game. Becca Shopiro ’12 and Valdes rounded out the Bison who managed to register a point. In her first action of the weekend, Rena Heim ’14 stopped five shots.
The Bison kicked off the weekend against No. 7 Michigan, losing 15-6. After a mere one-goal deficit by the end of the first quarter, the Orange and Blue seemed poised to pull off an upset. The Wolverines responded in the next two quarters, scoring eight goals while allowing the Bison to find the back of the net only twice. Canonica, Stephanie Ovalle ’14 and Julianne Valdes ’14 scored a team-high two goals each. Canonica added a pair of assists and five ejections drawn.
The Bison had a strong showing in goal from Brittany Connell ’12 who, in 32 minutes of play, had eight saves.
This weekend they will play four games at Kinney Natatorium against Indiana, Harvard, Maryland and George Washington. The Orange and Blue will have live video broadcast on Bison Vision against the Terrapins and Colonials.