Indiana Beats Bucknell 5-4 in CWPA Quarterfinals

Friday, April 27

Lewisburg, PA

4:30 PM

Indiana University

Bucknell (Quarterfinals)

Indiana Beats Bucknell 5-4 in CWPA Quarterfinals

4/27/2018 6:28:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score (PDF)Tournament Schedule Live Stream Hub

Gaudreault and the IU defense put Hoosiers in semifinals

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Indiana's 14^th-ranked water polo team commenced their weekend at the CWPA Championship, hosted by Bucknell University at Kinney Natatorium. The Hoosiers (25-7) beat the fifth-seeded Bison (13-18) in their home pool to advance to Saturday's semifinal round.

Game 32: Bucknell 4, No. 14 Indiana 5 // Box Score
Team              1 – 2 – 3 – 4 | F
IU:                   2 – 1 – 1 – 1 | 5
BUCK:            1 – 2 – 1 – 0 | 4

Karrie Kozokar scored a pivotal hat trick to guide the Hoosiers through the second half, but the performance between the posts from Jessica Gaudreault was paramount to the win. Gaudreault recorded 12 saves with two steals, including two penalty shot blocks in the first half.

Sophomore Joelle Nacouzi netted a goal in the first half and provided two assists, one of which came on the third quarter go-ahead goal by Sarah Myers. Megan Abarta and Emily Powell dished three combined assists from the wing.

The Hoosiers and Bison played an airtight first half. Indiana built a 3-1 lead on two goals from Kozokar and one by Nacouzi. Kozokar's second was a swift play, taking the feed first time on a turnaround shot.

Bucknell pushed back into the mix with two unanswered scores in the closing minutes of the half. Gaudreault kept things level for Indiana with seven saves in the half, two of which came on five-meter penalty shots.

Seeking an advantage before the fourth quarter began, Indiana regained the lead late in the third quarter clock when Nacouzi assisted to Myers in the center on a power play. The Bison found another answer, however, as they scored on their next power play for a 4-4 deadlock.

Kozokar began the fourth quarter with the crucial game-winner, a rocket from the middle of the attacking area to give the Hoosiers a 5-4 lead. Powell assisted from the right wing to give Kozokar the hat trick.

The IU defense held the line from that point onward. Gaudreault made five saves in the second half with two steals and shut the Bison out in the fourth quarter. Seven Hoosiers combined for 17 steals in the contest, led by Kelly Matthews with five. Myers and Kozokar grabbed three steals apiece.

Up Next: CWPA Semifinals • #14 Indiana (25-7) vs. #10 Princeton (22-7)
Saturday, April 28 • 4:30 p.m. ET • Kinney Natatorium • Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Stream • Tournament Schedule • Weekend Notes (PDF)

The Hoosiers get a formidable foe in the CWPA Semifinals. Top-seeded Princeton went 8-0 in conference play and won their quarterfinal game with Harvard, 12-4. The Tigers won the regular season by a narrow margin, 10-8.

The Hoosiers seek their first appearance in the CWPA Championship game since the 2016 season, the last time they faced Princeton in the postseason. Fans can follow the semifinals action via live stream or on Twitter @IndianaWPolo.