April 24, 2005

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Maryland women's water polo team finished fourth at the Southern Division Championships, going 2-3 on the weekend. After losing to George Washington, 7-3, on Sunday in the third-place game, the Terps defeated Salem International, 14-6, in the battle for fourth place.

Seniors Elyse Corwin (Orinda, Calif.) and Juli Jordan (Springfield, Va.) and freshman Kacie Owens (Annapolis, Md.) scored in Maryland's loss to the Colonials. Corwin and Jordan each also contributed a steal. Freshman Allie Houseal (Harleysville, Pa.) had two steals, while senior Colleen McShane (Chicago, Ill.), junior Allison Kuzniar (St. Charles, Ill.), sophomore Orsi Ferenczy (Fot, Hungary) and freshman Atalie Abranovic (Kittanning, Pa.) registered one steal apiece.

Junior goalie Marissa Corwin (Orinda, Calif.) recorded four blocks while allowing all seven George Washington goals.

McShane scored four goals to lead the Terps in the second game of the afternoon. She also registered a steal and an assist. Sophomore Cathy Popadiuk (Bryan, Texas) recorded the first multi-goal game of her career, scoring twice. Houseal, Kuzniar, Abranovic, Elyse Corwin, senior Sarah Wahba (Crofton, Md.) and sophomores Scandia DiSaverio (Wilmington, Del.) and Kerry McFadden (Longwood, Fla.) also scored for the Terps.

Jordan added three assists and a steal, while Wahba lead the team with five steals and McFadden had three. Ferenczy contributed an assist and a steal, and Kuzniar, Popadiuk, Abranovic, sophomore Audrey Lopez (Elkton, Md.) and freshman Emily Smoak (Salisbury, Md.) each had one steal.

Marissa Corwin played the first quarter in goal, registering two blocks and allowing two Salem goals. Ferenczy took over in the second quarter, blanking the Tigers while recording three saves. McShane allowed two goals in the third against one block, while Jordan gave up two Salem scores in the fourth and added one save.

The Terps finish the program's second varsity season 12-19 overall and 4-8 in the division, a marked improvement from last year's 0-12 record.

"It was a great season," first-year coach Carl Salyer said. "The girls have come a long way. We had some fun and learned a lot of water polo. It was a great first season for me. I'm very happy with the progress the girls have made all year."