George Washington University Athletics
Ponce Named to All-CWPA First Team
4/25/2019 9:01:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Sophomore is first Colonial honored on All-Conference First Team since 2013
BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -Â George Washington's Alana Ponce has been named to the All-Collegiate Water Polo Association Division I First Team.
A 2018 All-CWPA Second Team pick, Ponce leads the Colonials in goals (41) and points (54) through 18 games, despite facing heavy attention from opposing defenses.
The sophomore from Gig Harbor, Wash., has starred on both ends for the Buff and Blue, also ranking second in assists (13), steals (28), field blocks (8) and ejections drawn (22), entering this weekend's conference championship.Â
She's the program's first First Team All-Conference selection since Rachael Bentley in 2013.
"We are pleased that Alana has received this well-deserved recognition," head coach Barry King said. "She consistently strives for making herself and her teammates better. This year, she has taken on a much larger leadership role, and she has flourished."
Ponce has netted at least two goals in all six of GW's wins, highlighted by a seven-goal effort in a victory over St. Francis Brooklyn on Feb. 24. Her 100th career score beat the final buzzer to give the Colonials a 10-9 triumph over St. Francis (Pa.) on March 31 at Smith Center Pool.
In a pinch, Ponce took on a new role late in the season. With GW's goalkeeper sidelined for the final weekend of CWPA play, Ponce joined the rotation in net and made a team-high 11 saves over three games -- in addition to scoring a team-high six goals -- to earn a spot on the conference's weekly honor roll.
Ponce and the sixth-seeded Colonials kick off the CWPA Championship tournament Friday at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium, facing No. 3 seed Bucknell at 2:30 p.m.
