Maryland Water Polo Defeated by Nationally-Ranked Opponents
3/25/2007 8:00:00 AM | Water Polo
March 25, 2007
The University of Maryland women's water polo team culminated its eight-day, eight-game trip to California today with losses to nationally-ranked Stanford and Santa Clara.
Maryland's defense was unable to fend off first-ranked Stanford's counterattack, as the Cardinal defeated the Terps 19-5.
"We started off playing with good ball control, but Stanford's counterattack was too much for us to handle," said Maryland head coach Carl Salyer. "They attacked every steal or turnover, and they attacked with all six girls."
Still, Salyer was proud of his team's effort. "We played hard all game, and it was great experience. We won some of the battles," he said.
Sophomore Elizabeth Hopkins netted two in the match-up, and Blaise Stanicic, Christen Vagts, and Shannon Simerly each connected for the Terps.
Against Santa Clara, a few key mistakes by the Terps cost them easy goals on the defensive end as the Broncos swam away with a 13-9 win.
Hopkins, Simerly, Stanicic, and Bryndis Klein each contributed two to Maryland's offense, and Rachel Jordan added one to the effort.
In the cage, sophomore Ashleigh Jobson blocked seven and allowed eleven goals scored in the first three quarters of play. Junior Anna Gossett took over in the fourth, saving two while allowing three.
Reflecting on the California swing, Salyer said, "Our team got better at the end of this trip. We have made great strides against good competition."
The losses evened the Terps' record on the trip to 4-4. Maryland's overall record stands at 12-15 as they return to CWPA play this Friday and Saturday, facing Bucknell and Princeton at home.
