Indiana University Athletics
IU Completes with World's Best
4/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
"I particularly liked the third quarter," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "Their defensive scheme in the third quarter allowed us to do some things. We took advantage of the situation. We passed the ball really well, and we moved without the ball better. We shot the ball well and tested their goalie some. I thought we were much quicker defensively after I talked to them at the half about what was hurting us in their counter attack. We brought good energy. I told them before the game that they are going to be evaluated by their effort and energy. That is the best team in the world."
With just 2:55 remaining in the first period of play, the Hoosiers led the 2003 World Champions, 2-1. Team USA got on the board first with a goal from Maureen Flanagan just 33 seconds into the opening period. The Hoosiers responded with vengeance scoring the matches next two goals and taking a lead over the top ranked team in the World. The junior duo of Krista Peterson and Kandace Waldthaler each netted goals in the opening period to push IU out to the lead.
Team USA showed why they are the best in the World as they netted the next nine goals of the opening half to take a 10-2 lead into the locker room. Margaret Dingeldein scored three of USA's goals during the run, while Thalia Munro and Brenda Villa each added a pair on the run. Natalie Golda and Gabrielle Domanic scored on the run as well for Team USA.
The Hoosiers came out firing in the second half of play and netted the first two goals of the half. Both scores for the Hoosiers came from perimeter. Sophomore Janis Pardy scored at the 5:01 mark of the third period. Peterson netted her second goal of the match off the assist from freshman Kristin Zernicke with 3:54 remaining in the period. Team USA added the final two goals of the third quarter with Heather Petri and Dingeldein scoring. The Hoosiers played even with Team USA in the third period of play as both teams netted a pair of tallies.
Peterson netted a hat trick against the 2000 Olympic Silver Medallists by scoring the Hoosiers final goal of the match with 1:50 remaining. Sophomore Emily Schmitt assisted on the play. The Hoosiers' five goals are the second-most scored by a collegiate team against Team USA on the tour. Stanford scored seven goals against the National Team on March 27.
"Overall the match was a lot of fun," junior Krista Peterson said. "We came out and did not hold anything back. We just had fun with it. We had nothing to lose, and we played with the best team in the World."
Dingeldein led the way for Team USA as she scored four goals, while Munro had a hat trick as well. Dingeldein, who graduated from Stanford in 2002, was the first official visit to the Indiana water polo program when it became a varsity sport.
"We are excited about the College Tour," Team USA head coach Guy Baker said. "It allows us to get out and promote our sport. We are excited to come back to the Midwest. We think it is a good opportunity to come out and play. It gives us some competition, it gives us some games and it gives us a chance to work on some things and try some new things. It allows us to get away from our training facility. We train at the same place all the time. We get to see new and different things. We get to play in front of some crowds. We have been really excited and really pleased with it."
The Canadian Junior National Team duo of Zernicke and Pardy each registered a pair assists for the Hoosiers. Zernicke also led Indiana with three steals on the defensive end. Junior goalkeeper Jessica Goldner had six saves in the cage for the Cream and Crimson, while making one steal.
"I think there were some really positive things that people can grab onto for the next stage of our season," King said. "I was a little worried of just being shown that we are not at a certain level and that we would just get down on ourselves. I thought there were quite a few positive things inside the team scheme and individually that we can hang on to and take with us."
The Hoosiers will now have a week off before traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the CWPA Western Division Championships. IU will battle Grove City in its opening match at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 17. The Hoosiers defeated GCC, 13-2 in regular season play at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. The Western Division Championships will be Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18 with the championship match at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday. The Hoosiers are the second seed in the Championships while No. 8 Michigan is the top seed.
