Valentina Rozas

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) netted four goals and Bucknell outscored Hartwick 9-7 in the second half, but the Bison could not upset the 11th-ranked Hawks as they lost by a 14-12 margin at home in Kinney Natatorium. Kirsten Hudson led Hartwick with five goals, including three in the decisive fourth quarter.

Bucknell (12-9) led 2-1 early behind a pair of goals by Rozas, who netted the team’s first four goals in the game. However, the Hawks rattled off six consecutive scores as the Bison failed to score for nearly 12 minutes. During that span Hartwick (22-4) went from down 2-1 to a 7-2 advantage, its largest of the game.

Rozas, who now has 32 goals this season, scored on the final possession of the first half and the first possession of the second, bringing the Bison to within three goals. They proceeded to score two six-on-five goals and Amanda Skonezney (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) converted a penalty shot to make it 10-8 with 1:02 left in the third quarter. Hartwick’s Hanneke Alferink beat the buzzer on a restart after a foul to stretch the Hawks’ lead back to 11-8 entering the final period.

In the fourth quarter, Bucknell narrowed its deficit to one goal three different times, but each time Hudson quickly answered with a goal of her own to keep a two-goal lead for the Hawks.

Bucknell trailed 13-12 late in the fourth quarter and made Hartwick use up its entire shot clock and it appeared the Bison would be taking possession with 2:10 remaining with a chance to tie, but Hallie Kennan (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) was whistled for her third ejection just before the shot clock expired. Eight seconds later Hudson scored the final goal of the game.

Rozas was not the only Bison to net multiple goals as Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep), Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) and Kennan each found the back of the net twice. Canonica also dished out four assists, while both of Prickett’s scores were man-up goals that came less than 30 seconds after a Hartwick goal.

The Bison were able to tally three six-on-five goals in seven chances, but converted just one of three penalty shots. Hartwick was a solid 3-for-6 in six-on-five situations.

Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) registered eight saves and a team-high three steals in goal for Bucknell. She is now just five stops away from her second career 200-save season.

Prior to the game, third-year head coach John Abdou briefly recognized seniors Carter, Shana Palencia (Glendale, Calif./Hoover) and Rozas since the contest marked their last career game in Kinney Natatorium.

Release courtesy Bucknell Athletic Communications