Hoosiers Top Whittier, 10-3

Saturday, March 11

San Diego, CA

6:30 PM

Indiana University

Whittier

3/11/2017 10:53:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score (PDF)Tournament Central

Stingy defense hold Poets scoreless for final three quarters

SAN DIEGO – The Hoosiers returned to the pool Saturday evening in search of a turnaround to their Aztec Invitational weekend following their narrow defeat to No. 12 San Jose State. Indiana (12-3) righted the ship, backed by an uncompromising defensive finish, with a 10-3 win over the Whittier Poets (7-6).

Game 15: Indiana 9, Whittier 3
WC: 3 – 0 – 0 – 0
IU: 4 – 4 – 1 – 1
Indiana Goals: Williams (3), Myers (2), Nacouzi (2), Kozokar (2), Matthews (1)
WC Goals: Rivera (2), De La Mora (1)
Gaudreault: 9 saves, 1 assist, 1 steal

The Hoosiers endured a hard fought first quarter before jamming the throttle forward in the final 24 minutes. Keeping Indiana primed for that run was Mollie Williams, who stunned the crowd with a rapid first quarter hat trick. She opened scoring in the first 30 seconds and, after a tying goal from Whittier, pounded two more past the keeper in a 70-second clip. Karrie Kozokar's score, her first of two in the game, ensured a 4-3 first quarter lead from Indiana.

From there, Jessica Gaudreault and the Indiana defense locked the cage and threw away the key. Another four-goal second quarter extended the lead as Sarah Myers, Kelly Matthews, and Joelle Nacouzi found the back of the net. Nacouzi slotted back-to-back goals in a span of 45 seconds just before halftime to notch her seventh game this season with more than one score.

The Hoosiers scored once in both the third and fourth quarter with goals from Myers and Kozokar, respectively. Indiana is now 8-0 when at least three players finish the game with multiple scores.

Myers, Matthews, and Emily Lowe led the helper tally with two assists each. Gaudreault Emily Powell, and Megan Abarta connected for assists as well. On defense, Williams and Matthews tabbed three steals for the second time this year.

Up Next: Day 2 of the Aztec Invitational
No. 13 Indiana (12-3) vs. No. 16 UC San Diego (9-11) • 11 a.m. ET • Live Stats
No. 13 Indiana (12-3) vs. No. 17 San Diego State (7-7) • 4 p.m. ET • Live Stats
Aztec Aquaplex • San Diego, Calif.

The Hoosiers will enter their toughest stretch of the schedule starting Sunday morning with games against the Tritons and Aztecs. It begins a six-game run entirely comprised of top-20 opponents. Next week Indiana will meet the unbeaten, top-ranked USC Trojans before playing No. 8 Hawaii in their home pool. The fifth and sixth games of that stretch open CWPA play, when they'll play at No. 6 Michigan and against No. 10 Princeton.

That slate adds importance to tomorrow's games. Just one goal separated Indiana's game against UC San Diego last week, and this installment will take place in their home city. After that, they continue a hard-fought series with San Diego State in the Aztecs' home pool.

As this next week is Spring Break at Indiana University, the Hoosiers will stay out west for their two-game weekend at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Keep your Twitter and Instagram feeds fixated on @IUWaterPolo and the hashtag #IUWP for live updates.