2015 WWP Lazenby Action Shot 3
Peter Laurence
Senior Shanen Lazenby led Gannon in goals (3) and steals (6) during Sunday's victory against W&J.

Women's Water Polo Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Women's Water Polo Team Concludes Opening Weekend With Split

THE RUNDOWN
  • Match One Score: St. Francis (N.Y.) 14, Gannon 13
  • Match Two Score: Gannon 13, Washington & Jefferson 9
  • Records: Gannon (2-3), St. Francis (N.Y.) (2-6), Washington & Jefferson (0-4)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - Cathedral Prep High School's David Hallman Aquatics Center
  • The Short Story: The Gannon women's water polo team rebounded from a last-second loss in the opener against St. Francis (N.Y.) to beat Washington & Jefferson Sunday afternoon during the final day of action at the Mercyhurst Invitational. The Lady Knights finished the season-opening weekend 2-3. 

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED - MATCH ONE
  • After falling behind 2-1, Gannon scored the final three goals of the first quarter to assume a 4-2 lead. The run included a pair of goals from junior Christine Uht (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and one from sophomore Francesca Williamson (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley Liberal Arts).
  • St. Francis regrouped and out-scored Gannon 5-1 during the second quarter. The Lady Knights held a 5-4 lead, before the Terriers rattled off the final three scores of the first half for a 7-5 edge at the intermission.
  • Both teams netted three goals each during the third period.
  • Gannon opened the final frame with two Williamson scores and one goal from sophomore Alison Cooney (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy), giving the Lady Knights the lead again at 11-10.
  • The match came down the stretch with tied scores at 10, 11, 12 and 13.
  • Gannon took a 13-12 lead on senior Rachel Bednarek's (Windermere, Fla./Olympia) goal off an assist from sophomore Liz Barr (Honolulu, Hawaii/'Iolani School) with 55 seconds remaining.
  • However, St. Francis countered with the tying goal 24 seconds later and netted the game-winner with 15 ticks left.

MATCH NOTES
  • Cooney and Williamson led the scoring attack with a pair of hat tricks. Williamson also had two assists and one steal.
  • Barr and Uht followed with two scores each. Barr's resume included two assists and four steals. Uht chipped in two assists and one steal.
  • Senior Shanen Lazenby (Erie, Pa./McDowell) completed the scoring with a goal to go along with team-bests in assists (3) and steals (4).
  • Junior Emily Rodriguez (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) started her fourth consecutive match in goal, making six saves and recording three steals.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Cooney recorded her third hat trick of the weekend.
  • Williamson produced her first hat trick of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED - MATCH TWO
  • Gannon led from start to finish, opening a 4-2 lead after one quarter.
  • The Lady Knights were off and running with goals from Williamson and Bednarek during the opening three minutes and 21 seconds.
  • Gannon accounted for the only two goals of the second stanza.
  • Lazenby found the back of the net nine seconds into the quarter and Williamson added a second goal at the 5:07 mark to give the Lady Knights a 6-2 halftime lead.
  • Washington & Jefferson regrouped to produce a 3-1 scoring edge during the third period, cutting the deficit to 7-5.
  • The opening four minutes of the final quarter went back and forth. The Presidents climbed within one score on two different occasions. Sarah Latzo's tally with 3:54 remaining cut the deficit to 10-9.
  • That's when Gannon took control. The Lady Knights scored the match's final three goals to capture a 13-9 victory. Junior Kayla Villano (Schnecksville, Pa./Milford), Barr and Cooney scored during the clinching run.

MATCH NOTES
  • Lazenby was Gannon's leading scorer for the first time this season with three goals, two assists and a team-high six steals.
  • Barr, Conney and Williamson chipped in multiple scores.
  • Villano, Bednarek, Uht and sophomore Kristi Howe (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) added one goal each.
  • Bednarek dished out a team-best three assists.
  • Emily Rodriguez started her fifth consecutive match in goal, making six saves and allowing only two goals in 16 minutes of action.
  • Freshman Isabelle Vieira (Erie, Pa. / Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy) played the entire second half between the pipes, turning away two shots.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Lazenby recorded weekend-highs in goals (3) and steals (6).
  • Conney scored multiple goals during all five matches at the Mercyhurst Invitational.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns to action Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28 at the Bucknell Invitational.
  • The Lady Knights will face all NCAA Division I programs next weekend.
  • Gannon opens the invitational Saturday against George Washington (2:30 p.m.) and Bucknell (7 p.m.). The host school is among others receiving votes in the latest national top 25.
  • Sunday's opponents include No. 14 Princeton (8 a.m.) and No. 20 Wagner (12:30 p.m.).
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Players Mentioned

Liz Barr

#13 Liz Barr

Sophomore
Nursing/Pre-Med
Rachel Bednarek

#5 Rachel Bednarek

Senior
Physical Therapy
Alison Cooney

#18 Alison Cooney

Sophomore
Psychology/Pre-Med
Kristi Howe

#7 Kristi Howe

Sophomore
Nursing
Shanen Lazenby

#12 Shanen Lazenby

Senior
Undecided Science
Emily Rodriguez

#1 Emily Rodriguez

Junior
Sport & Exercise Science
Christine Uht

#10 Christine Uht

Junior
Nursing
Kayla Villano

#2 Kayla Villano

Junior
English
Francesca Williamson

#21 Francesca Williamson

Sophomore
Nursing
Isabelle Vieira

#1A Isabelle Vieira

Freshman
Pre-Dental

Players Mentioned

Liz Barr

#13 Liz Barr

Sophomore
Nursing/Pre-Med
Rachel Bednarek

#5 Rachel Bednarek

Senior
Physical Therapy
Alison Cooney

#18 Alison Cooney

Sophomore
Psychology/Pre-Med
Kristi Howe

#7 Kristi Howe

Sophomore
Nursing
Shanen Lazenby

#12 Shanen Lazenby

Senior
Undecided Science
Emily Rodriguez

#1 Emily Rodriguez

Junior
Sport & Exercise Science
Christine Uht

#10 Christine Uht

Junior
Nursing
Kayla Villano

#2 Kayla Villano

Junior
English
Francesca Williamson

#21 Francesca Williamson

Sophomore
Nursing
Isabelle Vieira

#1A Isabelle Vieira

Freshman
Pre-Dental