Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Advance to Title Game
4/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
The Hoosiers put on an impressive passing display in their opening position. After a steal by junior Clare Meadows gave the Hoosiers possession, she found fellow classmate Janis Pardy down the pool on the left side. Pardy sent an entry pass to sophomore Kristin Zernicke in the post, the Calgary, Alberta, Canada, native spun and passed to senior Kandace Waldthaler on the opposite side of the two-meter. Waldthaler pushed the ball into the open net, giving the Hoosiers an advantage they would never relinquish.
Zernicke found Pardy on the similar play for the Hoosiers second goal with 4:17 remaining in the opening period. The Presidents cut the lead back to one with 2:36 remaining on a goal into the right side of the net. Pardy added a 6-on-5 goal in the final minutes of the first to give IU a 3-1 lead at the end of the opening period.
The Cream and Crimson scored three goals in the opening two minutes of the second period and added a total of eight in the stanza to put the game away. Freshman Linda Calvert scored less than 45 second in the period, shooting the ball over the top of the Washington & Jefferson goalkeeper. Sophomore Kara Woolley found Calvert wide open in the post to set up the score.
Senior Krista Peterson added a pair of goals in a 44 second frame in the second. Both goals came on the counter off assists from Zernicke and Woolley, respectively. Freshman Brittany Estrada added a pair of goals as well before the end of the second. With 3:23 remaining, Estrada scored her first goal after drawing an ejection on the drive to give IU the 6-on-5 advantage. Sophomore Claire Nicholson, Woolley and Waldthaler each added markers in the eight-goal second period.
The Hoosiers scored four goals, while shutting out the Presidents in the second half. Calvert scored her second goal of the match in the post off the assist from Estrada in the third. Nicholson notched her second tally in the post to start the fourth period, while junior Bridget McKeon scored a pair in the final period, both coming in the two-meter.
Seven different Hoosiers scored two goals in the victory. Peterson, Estrada, Nicholson, McKeon, Waldthaler, Pardy and Calvert each found the back of the net on a pair of occasions. Zernicke had three assists, while Estrada and Woolley each had a pair of helpers in the victory.
On the defensive end, Nicholson led the way with three steals. Sophomore Courtney Livak, McKeon and Calvert each had multiple takeaways with two steals apiece. Once again, senior Jessica Goldner and freshman Jackie Pyrz split time in goal. Goldner collected two saves in the opening half, while Pyrz had four blocks in the second.
With the victory, the Hoosiers automatically qualify for the Collegiate Water Polo Association Eastern Championship on April 30 and May 1. The Cream and Crimson will host the Eastern Championship at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington. Indiana will play the winner of second-seeded Michigan and third-seeded Gannon for the Western Division Championship at 8 p.m. ET tonight.
