Six CWPA Programs to Clash at Bucknell Invitational this Weekend

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell University women's water polo team kicks off its 12th season this weekend as it hosts the Bison Invitational at Kinney Natatorium. Bucknell, which posted an 18-17 record last year, will play four games over the three-day event, starting with Friday evening's 6 p.m. contest against Gannon University.

A total of 17 contests will be played over the course of the Bison Invitational as Bucknell, Gannon, Mercyhurst College, George Washington University, the University of Maryland and Indiana University of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) will compete with Marist College, Siena College and Villanova University of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).

Two games will be contested Friday evening, nine more on Saturday, while six more will be held Sunday starting at 8:30 a.m.

Bucknell's Bison Invitational Schedule

FRIDAY, Feb. 12
Game 1 -- Bucknell vs. Gannon, 6 p.m.
Game 2 -- George Washington vs. Villanova, 7:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, Feb. 13
Game 3 -- Indiana vs. Marist, 10:15 a.m.
Game 4 -- Bucknell vs. Mercyhurst, 11:30 a.m.
Game 5 -- Wagner vs. George Washington, 12:45 p.m.
Game 6 -- Indiana vs. Villanova, 2 p.m.
Game 7 -- Marist vs. Gannon, 3:15 p.m.
Game 8 -- George Washington vs. Siena, 4:30 p.m.
Game 9 -- Bucknell vs. Wagner, 5:45 p.m.
Game 10 -- Mercyhurst vs. Villanova, 7 p.m.
Game 11 -- Maryland vs. Gannon, 8:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, Feb. 14
Game 12 -- Indiana vs. Siena, 8:30 a.m.
Game 13 -- Wagner vs. Mercyhurst, 9:45 a.m.
Game 14 -- Maryland vs. Marist, 11 a.m.
Game 15 -- Bucknell vs. Indiana, 12:15 p.m.
Game 16 -- Mercyhurst vs. Siena, 1:30 p.m.
Game 17 -- Wagner vs. Maryland, 2:45 p.m.

Bucknell Notes:

• Sunday's Bucknell-Indiana game will take place at 12:15 p.m. The Bison men's basketball team hosts Holy Cross in a nationally televised game at 2 p.m. next door in Sojka Pavilion. The men's basketball game is a ticketed event.
• Bucknell is 40-15 (.727) all-time at Kinney Natatorium.
• Bucknell is 6-5 all-time in season openers.
• Valentine Rozas needs just five points to move from sixth to fourth on Bucknell's career list. She is also 10 goals shy of becoming the third Bison to reach the 200-goal plateau for a career.
• Kandis Canonica enters the 2010 campaign with 125 assists, 17 shy of equaling Adrienne Schober's career mark that has stood since 2002.
• The February 12 start to the season is Bucknell's latest start since opening the 2005 campaign on Feb. 12.