Rookie Makes No Mistakes: Kennifer Nets Game-Winner as Harvard Outlasts Bucknell 9-8 in Eastern Seventh Place Game

Nicola Perlman

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. --  Northern Division Rookie of the Year Devan Kennifer (Fr., Monterey, Calif./Santa Catalina) cashed in an exclusion chance with 4:07 left in the fourth period for the deciding factor as Harvard University held Bucknell University to one second-half goal to outlast the Bison 9-8 in the seventh place game at the 2009 Eastern Championship at Harvard's Blodgett Natatorium.

Harvard (12-16), seeded 8th in the eight team field entering the championship, trailed for only 65 seconds in the game as the Bison scored first at 7:29 of the first period on a rising shot by Aubrey Rowe (Sr., Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) for a quick 1-0 lead.

The Crimson stormed back with back-to-back scores by Patricia Smith (So., Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) at 6:24 and 5:47 to go in front.  Harvard expanded the margin to 3-1 less than two minutes later as Moncia Zdrojewski (Fr., Irvine, Calif./Dana Hills) buried an exclusion goal into the twine at the 4:48 mark.

Bucknell (18-17) responded with consecutive scores by Kandis Canonica (So., Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep) and Valentina Rozas (Jr., Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) beat Harvard goalie Nicola Perlman (Sr., Stanford, Calif./Castilleja) at the 4:03 and 3:15 marks, respectively, to tie the game at 3-3.  Harvard regained the lead prior to the end of the period as Smith completed a natural hat-trick with 11 seconds on the clock to hand the Crimson a 4-3 advantage on the scoreboard.

Devon McLaughlin (Sr., Agoura Hills, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) added to the lead 1:02 into the second period wtih an exclusion goal at the 5:58 mark before Lizzie Abbott (Fr., Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) built the lead to 6-3 with an even-strength score at the 3:28 mark.

Facing the possibility of Harvard pulling away and coasting to victory, the Bison stampeded back into the game with an exclusion goal by Kristin Vallis (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) at 3:28, a successful penalty shot by Rowe at 2:52 and a tally by Canonica with 12 seconds left in the first half for a 6-6 tie at halftime.

Neither team would strike again until close to midway through the third period as Shannon Purcell (Fr., Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) converted on an exclusion chance at 4:14 and Roxanne Pinto (Jr., Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) lobbed a shot into the cage at 3:34 to push Harvard out to an 8-6 lead.

The Bison halved the margin by the end of the period as Rozas connected on a pass from Shana Palencia (Jr., Glendale, Calif./Hoover) at the 27-seconds mark to pull Bucknell to within 8-7 with a period to play.

However, Kennifer and the Harvard defense were the deciding factors down the stretch with a goal and 5:46 of scoreless water polo until Canonica pulled her team to within 9-8 with 2:14 to play.

Bucknell was unable to get over the hump and tie the game up for the third time, however, as the Crimson held the Bison shooters in check to take the one goal victory.

The Crimson's seventh place finish marks the third time Harvard has finished in the position after placing eighth (2007, 2006), seventh (2002, 2001), sixth (2003), fifth (2005, 2004) and third (2000) in the modern history of the Eastern Championship.

In cage, Perlman made eight saves to earn the win for Harvard, while Bucknell's Rachel McGillis (Sr., Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) swatted away 12 shots.

The game also gives Harvard the season series as the Crimson defeated (11-9 W) and fell (14-13 L) to the Bison earlier this year.

Harvard Goals: Patrica Smith (3); Devon McLaughlin; Lizzie Abbott; Shannon Purcell; Devan Kennifer; Monica Zdrojewski; Roxanne Pinto

Bucknell Goals: Aubrey Rowe (2); Kandis Canonica (2); Valentiza Rozas (2); Shana Palenci, Kristin Vallis

Saves: Harvard - Nicola Perlman (8) ; Bucknell - Rachel McGillis (12)

Ejections: Harvard - 11 ; Bucknell - 9

Sprints: Harvad - 2 (Monica Zdrojewski - 2nd, Shanon Purcell - 4th) ; Bucknell - Amanda Skonezney (2 - 1st & 3rd)

Bucknell's Aubrey Rowe