IU Opens Fluid Four with Win<br> - Indiana University Athletics

IU Opens Fluid Four with Win

4/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo

News Update

April 3, 2004

Hoosiers Open Fluid Four with a Victory

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Bloomington, Ind.- The No. 11 Indiana water polo team opened up the Fluid Four Challenge with a 10-4 win over No. 19 Cal State Northridge. Junior Kandace Waldthaler led the Hoosier charge as she registered her sixth hat trick of the year scoring four goals on the afternoon. The Hoosiers improve to 16-6 overall, while Cal State-Northridge falls to 14-9.

I was pretty pleased with the way Kandace played at two meters, and the way she controlled the game out of there, Indiana head coach Barry King said. I was expecting a little bit of a slow start, which we had even though we had quite a few good opportunities. We just were not finishing well. We kept going, let Kandace lead the way and grinded one out. On the defensive end, we were pretty tough and didnt give up too many easy things.

The Hoosiers got off to a slow start as Northridge scored the games first goal at the 3:05 mark of the first period with the Matadors on the advantage. Northridges Lynzy Klein scored into the right side of the net off the cross-water pass.

The lead was short lived though as Indiana responded on the next possession and scored the games next nine goals. Freshman Kristin Zernicke drew the kickout on Northridges Pam Barba at 2:46 mark. Junior Krista Peterson found sophomore Janis Pardy across the pool, and Pardy netted her 20th goal on the season.

Almost a minute later, senior Melissa Pietras gave the Hoosiers the lead for good with a goal at the 1:33 mark. Pietras skipped the ball into the right side of the net off the assist from Peterson.

Waldthaler scored her first goal of the match with the six-on-five advantage 46 seconds into the second period. Waldthaler drew the kickout as well to put IU on the advantage. Peterson found Waldthaler in the two-meter for the goal. Peterson sent IU to the locker room with a three-goal advantage as she scored with just 33 seconds remaining in the second half.

Waldthaler and Peterson continued to show their dominance as they scored the first four goals on the third period for the Hoosiers. Waldthaler scored off an assist from sophomore Bridget McKeon just over a minute into the second half. Peterson scored 37 seconds later to put IU up 6-1. McKeon again assisted on the goal, equaling a season high.

Waldthaler continued to look impressive in the two meter as she scored at the 4:33 and 3:57 marks of the third period. The goals were numbers 30 and 31 on the year. Her four-goal performance equaled a career-high and was the second-straight match she netted four tallies.

Reining CWPA Western Division Player of the Week, freshman Kara Woolley scored the final goal of the run with just under two minutes remaining in the period. The goal was Woolleys 19th on the year.

Northridge scored three of the games final four goals to draw within six. Sophomore Emily Schmitt tacked on the Hoosiers 10th goal with 3:10 remaining in the game.

Peterson equaled a career-high in assists with four against the Matadors. The Beaverton, Ore., native registered four assists earlier in the year against Princeton. She moved into fourth on the Hoosiers all-time assists list with 79 career helpers.

Junior goalkeeper Jessica Goldner led the Hoosier defense in another solid effort. Goldner had nine saves while facing 20 shots and allowing just four goals. Senior Kristy Streefkerk led IU with two steals on the afternoon.

The Hoosiers will return to the pool tonight at they take on No. 7 Loyola Marymount. The LMU Lions knocked off No. 8 Michigan in their opening game of the Fluid Four, 8-6. The Hoosiers and Lions will battle at 7:15 p.m. in the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.