April 8, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland women's water polo team gained the program's first-ever home win Friday, defeating Southern Division rival Salem International, 10-5. In the teams' last meeting on March 5, the Terps won 14-8.

Maryland (10-14, 2-4 CWPA) jumped out to an early 4-0 first-quarter lead and took a 6-1 advantage into halftime. The Tigers scored just 29 seconds into the third period before defense took over and both teams went scoreless for the rest of the quarter. Offense came alive again in the final frame as the Terps scored four more goals to Salem's two, and the final score was 10-5.

Junior Allison Kuzniar (St. Charles, Ill.) was the only Terp with more than one goal, as she notched a hat trick. The other seven goals were scored by senior Elyse Corwin (Orinda, Calif.), sophomores Orsi Ferenczy (Fot, Hungary), Cathy Popadiuk (Bryan, Texas) and Kerry McFadden (Longwood, Fla.) and freshmen Allie Houseal (Harleysville, Pa.), Emily Smoak (Salisbury, Md.) and Atalie Abranovic (Kittanning, Pa.). Abranovic and Popadiuk both scored their first goals of the season.

With regular goalie, junior Marissa Corwin (Orinda, Calif.) out, four Terrapins split time in the cage. Senior Sarah Wahba (Crofton, Md.) started the game in goal, registering two blocks without allowing a goal. Houseal played the second quarter, tallying three blocks and a steal while allowing one Salem goal. Ferenczy took over in the third period, registering two blocks and allowing one goal, while junior Jenna Nader (Canonsburg, Pa.) finished the game in the cage, tallying one block while allowing four Tiger scores.

Senior Juli Jordan (Springfield, Va.) led the Terps with six steals. Abranovic was the only other Maryland player with multiple steals, totaling two to go along with two assists.

League action continues tomorrow at the Campus Recreation Center Natatorium. Bucknell takes on Salem International at 3:30 p.m. before Princeton faces Maryland at 5 p.m. The evening concludes when the Terps face off with Bucknell at 8:30 p.m.

Maryland 10, Salem International 5
SIU        0   1   1   3      5
Maryland   4   2   0   4     10
Maryland Goals: Kuzniar (3), E. Corwin, Houseal, Ferenczy,
Popadiuk, McFadden, Abranovic