PRINCETON, N.J. - The Bucknell University women's water polo defense accumulated 15 steals, but the offense managed just five goals as the eighth-seeded Bison lost their Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship opener to top-seeded the University of Maryland 10-5 at Princeton University's DeNunzio Pool. Bucknell, which can still finish as high as fifth in the eight-team field, will now play the loser of Saturday morning's Princeton-Iona game at 4 p.m., while Maryland will take on the victor of the Princeton-Iona game at 7:00 p.m. in the tournament semifinals.

For the second straight game the Bison fell behind early as the Terps led 6-2 after the first quarter and 7-2 at halftime. Bucknell (3-2), which trailed then-No. 19 Indiana 8-2 at the half in its last game, has now been outscored 15-4 in the first half of its two losses.

Amanda Skonezney (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) was the lone Bison to tally multiple goals as she netted a season high-tying two scores. Kandis Canonica (Burlingame, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep), Krystle Morgan (Rowland Heights, Calif./Rosary) and Shannon Carroll (Wilton, Conn./Loomis Chaffee) contributed a goal apiece as freshmen and sophomores combined for four of the team's five goals. Canonica dished out a team-high two assists and led the way with three points in the contest.

Senior co-captain Valentina Rozas (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) was held without a goal on just two shots. She failed to tally a goal just seven times last year and registered five goals in three games against Maryland (6-2) last season.

Alison Carter (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) stopped eight shots in goal for Bucknell. She also contributed three steals, tying freshman Tara Murao (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) for team-high honors. Five Bison posted multi-steal contests.

Carroll, a freshman, made her first career start for Bucknell, while junior Haley Prickett (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) saw her first action of the season after sitting out the Bison Invitational two weeks ago with an injury.

Release courtesy Bucknell Athletic Communications