Pictured: Kelly Peeler tallied her first goal of the 2010
campaign.
Photo courtesy: Gil Talbot Photography
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.- The Harvard women's water
polo team staged a second-half comeback to defeat Bucknell, 13-12,
in overtime at the Elite Eight tournament. The Crimson improves to
8-5 on the season and snaps a three-game skid. Harvard is now 2-0
in games that are decided with bonus water polo this season.
The game opened with nine goals in the first eight minutes of
play and Harvard trailed Bucknell 5-4. The Bisons extended its
lead to three goals after outscoring the Crimson 3-1 in the second
quarter, to hold an 8-5 advantage heading into halftime. In the
third quarter, Harvard unleashed an offensive flurry, burying four
goals and only allowed one. The third period ended with the score
tied at 9-9. The Crimson and Bisons traded scores and were locked
at an 11-11 stalemate at the end of regulation. Devan Kennifer
found the back of the net twice in the extra frame to give Harvard
a 13-11 cushion before Bucknell got one back.
Kennifer scored six goals in the winning effort. Lizzie Abbott
and Aisha Price each notched a pair of goals in the contest for
Harvard. Kelly Peeler, Shannon Purcell and Patricia
Smith rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece. Laurel
McCarthy made seven saves to help the Crimson earn its eighth win
of the season.
Harvard travels to the Golden State for a string of five games.
The Crimson kicks off its west coast trip against Fresno Pacific
and UC-Davis, March. 15.
