Hoosiers Thump CSU, 13-3<br> - Indiana University Athletics

Hoosiers Thump CSU, 13-3

1/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Coming off an emotional victory over rival Michigan, the Indiana water polo team showed no signs of a letdown with a 13-3 victory over Colorado State. It was the first affair ever between the two schools, and Indiana controlled the match from the opening whistle. The Hoosiers improved to 2-1 on the season.

"I was pleased with the way we came out and played," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "I warned the girls before the match about not letting down after beating Michigan last night, and I thought the girls responded well. It was also nice to get a chance to look at some of our younger players."

Indiana reeled off the game's first 10 goals before the Rams could find the scoring column. The Hoosiers used defense and the counter attack to jump out to an early lead. Senior Kandace Waldthaler wasted no time notching the game's first tally just 31 second into the match. After junior Janis Pardy made a steal on the defensive end, she hit Waldthaler with a length of the pool pass. The Fairfield, Calif., native scored her fifth goal of the season.

Indiana scored 35 seconds later with Pardy again assisting to sophomore Kristin Zernicke. It was Zernicke's first goal of the season and Pardy's fifth assist. IU would score three more times before the end of the period to put the game out of reach.

Freshman Carolyn Conway made her presence felt. After scoring her first collegiate goal in the victory over Michigan, Conway notched her first career hat trick against the Rams, all coming in the first quarter and a half. After scoring with 4:23 remaining in the first, the Newport Beach, Calif., native scored twice in the opening 1:30 of the second quarter, pushing the Hoosier lead to seven.

Colorado State finally scored with 1:34 remaining in the opening half. Leah Kelly scored with the Rams on the power play to cut the lead to 10-1. Kelly would score the other two Colorado State goals with one coming in each of the final two periods.

Freshman goalkeeper Jackie Pyrz made her first collegiate start against the Rams. Pyrz finished with seven saves and a steal while allowing only one goal in the first half of play. Fellow classmate Jenny Gonzales saw the first action of her Hoosier career. The Fresno, Calif., native recorded five saves in the second half.

Sophomore Claire Nicholson equaled a career high with two goals in the second half. She also had two assists in the victory. Freshman Bittany Estrada recorded the first assist and steal of her collegiate career with a pair of both in the match.

The Hoosiers also got goals from junior Bridget McKeon, junior Emily Schmitt, junior Janis Pardy, sophomore Jacklyn Tameris, sophomore Kara Woolley and junior Clare Meadows. McKeon also led the team with three steals.

Indiana will have a week off before returning to the pool in the Stanford Invitational, Feb. 12 and 13. Indiana will be in one of two round robin brackets with the first, second, third and fourth-place finishers in each bracket going on to face one another. IU will be paired with No. 2 USC, No. 6 California and No. 7 Hawaii. Indiana will face California on Feb. 12th at 12:00 p.m. PT and Hawaii at 7:00 p.m. PT. The Hoosiers will return the following day to battle USC at 9:30 a.m. PT before facing a team placing the same in the opposite bracket.