George Washington University

April 27, 2012

Box Score | 2012 CWPA Eastern Championship Schedule | Watch Every Game Live | Live Updates on @GW_WaterPolo

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - George Washington women's water polo twice pulled within two goals inside the final five minutes, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 9-7 loss to Bucknell in the opening game of the CWPA Eastern Championship at Brown's new Coleman Aquatics Center on Friday morning.

GW (10-15) will now face 12th-seeded Notre Dame College (Ohio), which dropped a 17-6 decision to Hartwick later Friday, on Saturday at 3:20 p.m. Bucknell (15-21) will face top-seeded #10 Michigan at 3:40 p.m. on Friday. Fans can watch all games of the CWPA Eastern Championship by subscribing to the conference's Stretch Internet video platform.

First Team All-South senior center Megan Walker scored two first-half goals and sophomore attack Megan Brolley netted two goals to pace the Colonials' offense. Brolley added an assist for three points, and senior Monica Hanson also totaled three points on a goal and two assists.

After splitting the opening four goals, Bucknell's Krystle Morgan scored what proved to be the difference-maker with 2:05 left in the first quarter to give the Bison a 3-2 advantage.

The Colonials never trailed by more than three goals, but couldn't pull even again over the final 24 minutes.

Freshman goalie Chandler Vilander stopped a five-meter penalty as part of her five-save second quarter and Walker scored a sweep shot from the set with 3:42 before halftime to send GW into intermission down 4-3. Vilander finished the morning with six total saves.

Bucknell separated itself with a 3-1 run to start the second half before Hanson converted an exclusion with 36 seconds left to pull GW within 7-5 through three quarters.

The Colonials failed on their seventh man-advantage opportunity to open the fourth quarter and the Bison responded with their fourth 6-on-5 goal of the game for a three-goal lead with 6:35 left.

Freshman Meagan Moreland cut the deficit to 8-6 on the man-up with 4:49 to play, and Brolley converted a 6-on-5 with 1:16 left, but sophomore Rachael Bentley couldn't break free from a Bison double-team in front of the cage inside the final minute and the Colonials would get no closer than 9-7.

CWPA Southern Division Rookie of the Year Taylor Barnett and seniors Hallie Kennan and Ariel Frankeny scored two goals apiece to lead Bucknell, which topped GW for the fifth time this season.

GW and Bucknell both finished 4-of-8 on extra-man opportunities, and each team had a five-meter attempt saved. The Colonials finished 7-of-20 shooting.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	--	Final
George Washington University	2	1	2	2	--	7
Bucknell University	3	1	3	2	--	9

Bucknell Goals: Ariel Frankeny (2); Hallie Kennan (2); Taylor Barnett (2); Becca Shopiro; Heather Smith; Krystle Morgan

GW Goals: Megan Walker (2); Megan Brolley (2); Katherine Berry; Monica Hanson; Meagan Moreland

GW Assists: Bentley (2), Hanson (2), Brolley, Dickson, Littlejohn

GW Steals: Hurd (2), Bentley (2), Moreland (2), Brolley (2), Littlejohn (2), Vilander (2), Berry, Dickson

GW Ejections Drawn: Brolley (2), Littlejohn (2), Berry, Bentley, Walker, Dickson

GW Penalties Drawn: Walker

Saves: Bucknell - Rena Heim (7), ; GW - Charlotte Vilander (6)

Exclusions: Bucknell - 8 ; GW - 8

Advantage Opportunities: Bucknell - 4-for-8 ; GW - 4-for-8

Sprints: Bucknell - 4-for-4 (Julianne Valdes) ; GW - 0-for-4

Cards: None

Officials: Alex Stankevitch, Josh Kratz