April 21, 2007

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COLLEGE PARK, Md.- The University of Maryland women's water polo team captured the CWPA Southern Division Championship game on Saturday, defeating No. 16 Princeton 9-8. Sophomore Elizabeth Hopkins scored with just two seconds remaining in regulation to record Maryland's first win over the Tigers this season.

Maryland trailed nationally-ranked Princeton 6-5 at the end of the third period, but freshman Shannon Simerly scored her fourth goal of the game to even the score with only eight seconds elapsed in the final quarter. Four minutes later, Bryndis Klein put the Terps up 7-6. In a one-minute span, Princeton's Lauren Sabb scored twice while Maryland's Rachel Jordan netted one to even the score at 8-8 with 2:25 remaining.

Hopkins was able to overcome two first-period fouls to stay in the game for her dramtic game-winning shot.

In the first round of the tournament, Maryland soundly defeated Bucknell 14-6 for the Terps' third-straight win over the Bison. Maryland jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first quarter, and led the Bison 8-3 at halftime.

The victory marked the Terps' largest over Bucknell this season, previously downing the Bison 8-6 in overtime on March 10 and 9-4 on March 31 in College Park.

Freshman Shannon Simerly led Terrapin scorers with five goals against the Bison, followed by sophomore Christen Vagts who netted four. For Bucknell, Jennifer Swoyer scored a team-high two goals, both in the fourth quarter.

The Terps will travel to Princeton, N.J. to play for the CWPA Eastern Division Championship April 28-29. Maryland's record improved to 15-16 overall, 6-2 in the CWPA.