Maryland Water Polo Defeats Princeton to Win CWPA Southern Division Championship
4/18/2009 8:00:00 AM | Water Polo
April 18, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland women's water polo team won its second CWPA Southern Division Championship in three years by beating Princeton, 14-10, at Eppley Recreation Center Natatorium on Saturday.
The Terps (14-12, 5-1 CWPA South) trailed 4-3 early in the second quarter before scoring six consecutive goals to take a five-goal halftime lead. They held off the Tigers in the second half to secure the victory. The win gives the Terps an automatic bid to next weekend's CWPA Conference Championship.
On a night that belonged to Maryland's eight graduating seniors, the game belonged to freshman Elina Goldenberg. Goldenberg made her presence felt at the two-meter line, scoring the first two Terrapin goals and finishing with five for the game. Goldenberg's presence on the inside opened up shots for her teammates around the perimeter as the Terps drained long distance shots throughout the second period.
Rachel Jordan's goal at the end of the first period was the 200th of her career, making her the first player in Maryland women's water polo history to reach that plateau. She also scored No. 201 with the game's final goal with twelve seconds remaining.
The Terrapins scored at a very efficient rate, knocking in half of their shots and converting five of their seven power plays. Allison Beck scored on one of the 6-on-5 situations and powered home the only penalty shot of the night. Shannon Simerly, Elizabeth Hopkins, Blaise Stanicic, Callan Rowe, and Carly Hoshko each floated shots over Princeton goalkeeper Kristen Ward's outstretched fingers to account for the rest of the team's goals.
On defense, Maryland made life very difficult for the Tigers' leading scorer, Phoebe Champion, who was held scoreless on four attempted shots during the game. Goalkeeper Ashleigh Jobson was rarely tested in the first half and was able to focus her efforts on creating turnover opportunities for her teammates. She played the entire match and finished with five blocks.
Before the game, head coach Carl Salyer honored the team's eight seniors - Jordan, Hopkins, Stanicic, Jobson, Bryndis Klein, Christen Vagts, Laurel Laidlaw, and Jill Lau - with presentations of flowers and necklaces. The class of 2009 was Salyer's first recruiting class; with its talent under his leadership, the Terps advanced to the CWPA Eastern Division Championship game each of the past four years. The seniors on this team make up five of the top six spots on Maryland's all-time points, goals, and assist lists and Ashleigh Jobson has the most blocks in school history.
Maryland has won both its division titles at home, playing the 2007 championship at Eppley Recreation Center Natatorium. The Terps finished the year undefeated (5-0) in College Park, although they could play another game at home if they are able to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championship.
The eight-team championship event will place May 8-10 in College Park.
The Terps can win an automatic bid to the NCAAs by capturing next weekend's CWPA Conference Championship at Harvard. Play gets underway Friday.
Maryland 14, Princeton 10
Eppley Recreation Center NatatoriumGeorge Washington 12, Bucknell 11 (OT)1 2 3 4 F Maryland 3 6 3 2 14 Princeton 3 1 4 2 10
Maryland Statistics Goals: Goldenberg, 5 (50); Jordan, 2 (44); Beck, 2 (11); Simerly (25); Hopkins (37); Stanicic (23); Rowe (8); Hoshko (16) Blocks: Jobson, 5 Goals Allowed: Jobson, 10 Ejections: Hopkins, 3; Simerly, 2; Vagts; Beck; Hoshko 6-on-5: 5-7 5-meter: 1-1 Shots: 28
Princeton Statistics Goals: Brunner, 2 (30); Ardila, 2 (18); Zak, 2 (11); Hutchison (11); Meigs (34); Jiminez (2); Jacobson (19) Blocks: Ward, 6; Michel, 2 Goals Allowed: Ward, 13; Michel, 1 Ejections: Brunner, 2; Champion, 2; Hutchison; Schelegle; Zak; Jacobson 6-on-5: 3-8 Shots: 23
Eppley Recreation Center Natataorium1 2 3 4 OT1 OT2 F GWU 1 2 3 3 1 2 12 Bucknell 3 2 1 3 1 1 11
GWU Statistics Goals: Peotter, 3 (49); Walker, 2 (27); Maggiolo (11); Moren (24); Fitch (15); Stamler (42); Delker (5); Karandy (8); Sullivan (16) Blocks: Schou, 15 Goals Allowed: Schou, 11 Ejections: Maggiolo (2); Fitch (2); Peotter; Chereson; Stamler; Karandy; Sullivan 6-on-5: 4-11 5-meter: 1-2 Shots: 26
Bucknell Statistics Goals: Rozas, 3 (69); Palencia, 2 (45); Prickett, 2 (21); Skonezney (25); Canonica (56); Kennan (13); Rowe (65) Blocks: Carter, 5 Goals Allowed: Carter, 12 Ejections: Prickett, 3; Rowe, 3; Palencia, 2; McNally, 2; Rozas; Kennan; Vreeland 6-on-5: 1-9 Shots: 36
