IU Wins Three Division Matches<br> - Indiana University Athletics

IU Wins Three Division Matches

3/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo

GROVE CITY, Pa. - The No. 9 Indiana women's water polo team picked up three dominating CWPA Western Division victories on Saturday. The Hoosiers started out with a 17-2 win over Washington & Jefferson at Grove City, before traveling to Slippery Rock and defeating The Rock, 19-6. The Cream and Crimson capped the day with a 17-4 win over Grove City. IU improved to 10-5 on the season with the wins.

"The goal for this weekend was to picked up victories and keep everyone healthy," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "We were able to accomplished that on Saturday and that is important. It is always good when you get contributions from everyone like we did against Washington & Jefferson, Slippery Rock and Grove City."

The Hoosiers scored the first nine goals of the match in cruising to a 17-2 win over Washington & Jefferson. Presidents didn't scored until 23 seconds remaining in the third period. After the third period ended at 9-1, the Hoosiers outscored Washington & Jefferson, 8-1, over the final seven minutes. The Cream and Crimson dominated on the defensive end, racking up a season-high 21 steals.

Junior Clare Meadows led the way with her second career hat trick to go along with two assists. IU got two-goal performances from senior Krista Peterson, freshman Brittany Estrada, senior Kandace Waldthaler and sophomore Jaclyn Tameris in the victory. Sophomore Claire Nicholson registered a career-high four assists against the Presidents, while fellow classmate Kara Woolly had a career-high and team-leading five steals.

All three Hoosier goalkeepers saw action against the Presidents. In one half of work, senior goalkeeper Jessica Goldner had three saves and a steals without allowing a goal.

Indiana led 5-1 after the opening period against Slippery Rock, 11-2 at the half and 16-5 at the end of three on its way to a season-high 19 goals. The Hoosiers also a season-high 15 assists in the win.

Freshman Carolyn Conway and Waldthaler each registered hat tricks in the win. Conway scored four goals to go along with four drawn ejections, while Waldthaler picked up her 10th career hat trick with three markers. Peterson, Woolley and Tameris each added a pair of tallies in the win.

Sophomore Kristin Zernicke, junior Bridget McKeon, sophomore Courtney Livak, junior Emily Schmitt and junior Janis Pardy each had a pair of assists against The Rock. Meadows had a team-leading five steals in the victory, while Pardy had three takeaways.

The freshman duo of Pyrz and Gonzales made their mark between the pipes against Slippery Rock. The tandem split time in net with Pyrz picking a career-best six saves, while Gonzales had four stops.

Conway and Peterson led the Hoosier charge against Grove City, scoring nine of the IU's first 10 goals. Conway finished with a career-best five markers, while Peterson notched her 28th career hat trick with four tallies.

Estrada and freshman Linda Calvert each added a pair of tallies in the win over Grove City. Waldthaler had a career-high three assists against the Wolverines, while Pardy added a trio of helpers as well. Livak had a career-best five steals against GCC, while Schmitt added four takeaways.

The Hoosiers will continue Western Division action on Sunday with three matches. IU will battle Penn State-Behrend at 9:30 a.m. followed by a 12:30 p.m. match up with Mercyhurst. Indiana will conclude the weekend with a 3:30 p.m. affair against Gannon. The matches will be played at each respective opponent's pool, all of which are located in Erie, Pa.