Indiana University Athletics
IU Opens Westerns with Win
4/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
"The ladies did a good job of jumping on top earlier and maintaining their advantage," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "We played well on both ends of the pool. It was a good way to start the weekend."
Conway pushed the Hoosiers out to the early lead, scoring three straight markers over a two-minute span in the opening period. The Newport Beach, Calif., product scored off a rebound with the Hoosiers on the 6-on-5 advantage, a 1:30 into the first period. She tacked on two more goals before the 3:28 mark, both off assists from junior Bridget McKeon.
Over the final 2:30 of the opening period, senior Kandace Waldthaler added a pair of goals with sophomore Claire Nicholson adding a tally. The Hoosiers led 7-0 at the half after senior Krista Peterson notched a spinning goal in the post off the assist from junior Clare Meadows in the second period.
The Hoosiers extended the lead to 13-0 before the end of the third period. Conway added a pair in the period, matching her career-high with five goals on the game. Earlier in the season against Grove City, Conway scored five goals in a 17-4 victory. Waldthaler added a goal in the third stanza for the 12th hat trick of her Hoosier career. Junior Janis Pardy added two goals, while sophomore Kara Woolley scored one in the third.
Grove City scored their first goal of the match to open the third period. A lob over the top of the Hoosier defense resulted in the tally for the Lady Wolverines with 5:34 remaining. Peterson, freshman Linda Calvert and Meadows each notched a goal for the margin in the final period.
The Cream and Crimson did it on both ends of the pool shooting 50 percent (16-of-32) from the field, while making 20 steals on the defensive end. In net for IU, senior Jessica Goldner and freshman Jackie Pyrz slip halves. Goldner made four saves in the opening half, while Pyrz had six saves and a steal in the second.
McKeon led IU in steals with four on the night. Woolley added three swipes, while Nicholson, sophomore Kristin Zernicke, sophomore Courtney Livak and Meadows each had two takeaways. Pardy had three helpers bringing her team lead in the category to 35. The total is the fifth-best single season mark in school history. McKeon and Waldthaler each added a pair of assists in the win as well.
The Hoosiers will play fifth-seeded Washington & Jefferson in the semifinals on Saturday. The match will be at 12:30 p.m. ET in the Grove City College Competition Pool. The President defeated fourth-seeded Mercyhurst, 5-4, in the opening round of the Western Division Championship. The other semifinal is set for 1:45 p.m. ET between second-seeded Michigan and third-seeded Gannon. The winners of the semifinals will be at 8 p.m. for the Western Division title. The Hoosiers defeated Washington & Jefferson, 17-2, at Grove City earlier this season.
