Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Down Gannon
3/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
The Hoosiers jumped out to a 5-2 advantage after the first period of play. Waldthaler got the Hoosiers started with a backhand shot from the post position off the assist from senior Melissa Pietras. Waldthaler also drew a four-meter foul at the five-minute mark of the opening period. Freshman Kristin Zernicke scored the penalty shot into the lower left corner. Peterson netted a pair of goals in the final 3:45 of the quarter to lead the charge. Sophomore Janis Pardy also netted a goal in the first period as she skipped a shot into the lower left corner.
Sophomore Emily Schmitt added the lone second period goal by either team as Indiana went into the locker room with a 6-2 advantage. Senior Kristy Streefkerk assisted on the goal. She finished the match with career-high three helpers.
Gannon would not go away quietly as they scored three of the first four goals of the second half and drew within two goals on a pair of occasions. Two of the three Lady Knight goals over the first five minutes of the second half came via the 6-on-5 advantage. A goal by Rachel Hudson for Gannon cut the IU lead to 7-5 with 1:16 remaining in the third period.
That would be as close as Gannon got as the Hoosiers scored the matches final four goals. With just 19 seconds remaining in the third period, Zernicke found Waldthaler, who extend the lead back up to three. Waldthaler was not done there as she opening the scoring in the final period of play off with assist from Peterson with IU on the 6-on-5 advantage. The four-goal performance was a career-high for Waldthaler and the fifth time this season she has registered a hat trick.
Pietras and Peterson each added goals in the final period for IU's final margin. Pietras got out of the break and scored off the assist from Zernicke, while Peterson netted the game's final goal. With the Hoosiers on the advantage, Streefkerk found Peterson for the score with 2:43 showing to put IU up 11-5.
Pietras and Zernicke each added a pair of assists in the win. Freshman Kourtney Schepman, Waldthaler and Pietras led the Hoosiers with two steals apiece. Junior Jessica Goldner finished the afternoon with eight saves in the cage for IU.
The Hoosiers will return to action next weekend when they host the Fluid Four at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. The field includes a quartet of ranked teams with No. 7 Loyola Marymount, No. 8 Michigan and No. 20 Cal State Northridge as well as the No. 11 Hoosiers taking part in the event. IU will take on Northridge at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 and LMU on Sunday at 11:00 p.m. The Invitational will start on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. with Michigan taking on Northridge. LMU will then take on Northridge at 2:30 p.m. before battling Michigan at 6:00 p.m. The LMU/Indiana battle will be the only match up on Sunday.
