George Washington University Athletics
Sunday, March 31
Washington, DC
11:30 AM
George Washington University
10
vs
9
Saint Francis (Pa.)
Photo by: Zachary Webster
Ponce's Buzzer-Beater Lifts Women's Water Polo
3/31/2019 1:38:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
Colonials closed the home weekend with a thrilling win
WASHINGTON - Alana Ponce's buzzer-beater lifted GW women's water polo to a 10-9 win over visiting Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday at Smith Center Pool.
With the score tied and eight seconds left in regulation, the Colonials took a timeout for head coach Barry King to draw up a final play.
Goalkeeper Samantha Runyon tossed it to Jaleh Moaddeli, who found Ponce just beyond the five-meter line. After being fouled, the sophomore from Gig Harbor, Wash., shot immediately off the restart, beating the horn with the game-winning goal.
That thrilling finish capped an impressive second half for Ponce, who scored all four of her goals after intermission to help the Colonials close the weekend in their home pool with a victory.
GW (5-8) needed those heroics to edge St. Francis in a back-and-forth contest. The Colonials led 6-3 on consecutive goals from Juliette Belanger, Ponce and Kira Bruno to start the second half, but the Red Flash answered with the next three to tie it again.
Ponce's score with 4:40 left in regulation made it 9-7 before the visitors rallied to even the score with 1:00 remaining via a pair of power-play goals.
GW couldn't convert on the ensuing possession but forced a turnover to set up the final possession, which Ponce turned into a game-winning goal to the roaring approval of the home crowd.
In addition to her team-high four goals, Ponce also paced GW in steals (five) and ejections drawn (three).
Belanger scored twice, while Moaddeli tallied a goal and an assist. Bruno, Allison DeCicco and Katherine Atherton also scored for the Colonials.
Samantha Runyon was strong in net for the Buff and Blue, posting nine saves and three steals.
UP NEXT: The Colonials head to Harvard next weekend for their CWPA matchups vs. the host Crimson and Bucknell. The Colonials close the regular season the following weekend (April 13-14) with conference games against Brown, St. Francis and Michigan at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium.
WATCH THIS: Hear from King and Ponce after Sunday's victory.
GW 10, St. Francis (Pa.) 9
SFU--2-1-3-3--9
GW--1-2-5-2--10
GW Goals: Ponce 4, Belanger 2, Atherton 1, DeCicco 1, Bruno 1, Moaddeli 1.
GW Assists: DeCicco 1, Moaddeli 1.
GW Steals: Ponce 5, Belanger 3, Tomasi 1, Shaffer 1, DeCicco 1, Hathaway 1, Bruno 1.
GW Ejections Drawn: Ponce 3, Belanger 1.
GW Saves: Runyon 9.
With the score tied and eight seconds left in regulation, the Colonials took a timeout for head coach Barry King to draw up a final play.
Goalkeeper Samantha Runyon tossed it to Jaleh Moaddeli, who found Ponce just beyond the five-meter line. After being fouled, the sophomore from Gig Harbor, Wash., shot immediately off the restart, beating the horn with the game-winning goal.
That thrilling finish capped an impressive second half for Ponce, who scored all four of her goals after intermission to help the Colonials close the weekend in their home pool with a victory.
GW (5-8) needed those heroics to edge St. Francis in a back-and-forth contest. The Colonials led 6-3 on consecutive goals from Juliette Belanger, Ponce and Kira Bruno to start the second half, but the Red Flash answered with the next three to tie it again.
Ponce's score with 4:40 left in regulation made it 9-7 before the visitors rallied to even the score with 1:00 remaining via a pair of power-play goals.
GW couldn't convert on the ensuing possession but forced a turnover to set up the final possession, which Ponce turned into a game-winning goal to the roaring approval of the home crowd.
COLONIALS WIN! Alana Ponce beats the buzzer for a 10-9 victory over St. Francis (PA) to close out the weekend in our home pool! #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/yI1vO4ut9d
— GW Water Polo (@GW_WaterPolo) March 31, 2019
In addition to her team-high four goals, Ponce also paced GW in steals (five) and ejections drawn (three).
Belanger scored twice, while Moaddeli tallied a goal and an assist. Bruno, Allison DeCicco and Katherine Atherton also scored for the Colonials.
Samantha Runyon was strong in net for the Buff and Blue, posting nine saves and three steals.
UP NEXT: The Colonials head to Harvard next weekend for their CWPA matchups vs. the host Crimson and Bucknell. The Colonials close the regular season the following weekend (April 13-14) with conference games against Brown, St. Francis and Michigan at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium.
WATCH THIS: Hear from King and Ponce after Sunday's victory.
"We're learning how to persevere."
— GW Water Polo (@GW_WaterPolo) March 31, 2019
Hear from Head Coach Barry King and Alana Ponce after our thrilling home win over St. Francis (PA)! #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/dqIVs2gHk0
GW 10, St. Francis (Pa.) 9
SFU--2-1-3-3--9
GW--1-2-5-2--10
GW Goals: Ponce 4, Belanger 2, Atherton 1, DeCicco 1, Bruno 1, Moaddeli 1.
GW Assists: DeCicco 1, Moaddeli 1.
GW Steals: Ponce 5, Belanger 3, Tomasi 1, Shaffer 1, DeCicco 1, Hathaway 1, Bruno 1.
GW Ejections Drawn: Ponce 3, Belanger 1.
GW Saves: Runyon 9.
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Attack
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
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