Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Harvard (Princeton Invitational)
No. 17 Hoosiers Cruise Past Harvard, 13-5
2/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 19, 2006
PRINCETON, N.J. - Nine players found the scoring column as the No. 17 Indiana women's water polo team cruised past Harvard, 13-5, on the final day of the Princeton Invitational on Feb. 19. Every Hoosier field player registered at least an assist in the contest, and as a team, IU had season-highs with 13 goals and 12 assists. Indiana upped its record to 5-7 on the year.
"I was pleased with the ladies performance on Sunday," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "Before the game, we talked about using our defense to create offense and putting the game away early. It was nice to see that we were able to do those things against Harvard. Everyone had a hand in this victory for us, which is always a plus."
Harvard held the Hoosiers scoreless for the opening 3:30 of the game, but over the next 2:30, IU opened up an insurmountable lead with four straight goals. Senior Clare Meadows started things off with a power-play goal on a nice lob pass from junior Brooke Zimmerman.
The Canadian duo of junior Kristin Zernicke and senior Janis Pardy scored the following two Hoosier tallies. Both goals came from the perimeter with Zernicke scoring into the left side of the net from the right side, and Pardy notching her marker from the top of the key into the left side. Sophomore Brittany Estrada assisted on Zernicke's goal, while Zernicke picked up the helper to Pardy.
With the shot clock running down, Estrada scored from the perimeter with 1:04 remaining in the first period to give IU a 4-0 lead. Senior Bridget McKeon hit Estrada with a cross-pool pass to the left side, and the Coronado, Calif., native scored into the left side of the net.
Harvard scored before the end of the first period, but the Hoosiers added the opening three goals of the second period to push the advantage to 7-1. Sophomore Linda Calvert scored a pair of goals during the run both coming via a backhand in the post. Sandwiched in between Calvert's goals was a perimeter tally from Meadows. Her shot deflect off the crossbar and in off the pass from Zimmerman.
The Crimson drew to within five on a four-meter penalty shot, but IU ended the half with a pair of markers and led 9-2 at the intermission. Meadows notched her third career hat trick and first of the season at the 2:41 mark. She rifled a shot into the upper 90 of the goal from the left side of the perimeter. The final goal of the half came with 1:58 remaining. Pardy drew a four-meter penalty in the post, and junior Kara Woolley finished it off for the score.
Freshman Maggie Hannon opened the second half with her first career goal. On the Hoosiers opening possession, junior Jaclyn Tameris fed the ball to Hannon in the post. The Ann Arbor, Mich., native fired a backhand to the short side past the Harvard goalkeeper.
Harvard scored twice more before the end of the third period, but IU had a trio of perimeter shots go in the net to take a nine-goal, 13-4, cushion into the fourth period. Senior Katie Parrish, junior Claire Nicholson and Woolley each notched goals before the end of the third. The Crimson added the lone goal of the fourth period via the man-advantage for the final 13-5 margin.
Woolley and Calvert each finished with two goals to go along with Meadow's hat trick. Zimmerman led IU with three assists, while Zernicke and Nicholson each notched a pair of helpers. Junior Melissa Soria led the defensive attack with three steals, while Calvert drew a pair of ejections.
Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Larson saw the first significant minutes of her Hoosier career. She did play 2:35 in the Michigan Kickoff Tournament, but played the entire second half for the Hoosiers against Harvard. Larson finished with five saves, including a six-on-five block. Sophomore goalkeeper Jackie Pyrz played the entire first half and finished with three saves and a steal.
The Hoosiers will have a week off before jumping into Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Western Division action. IU will travel to Erie, Pa., to face Gannon on Friday, March 3, at 7:15 p.m. On Saturday, March 4, Indiana will face Grove City at 10 a.m., Slippery Rock at 12:30 p.m., and Washington & Jefferson at 3 p.m. All three of those contests will be played in Washington, Pa. The Hoosiers will travel back to Erie, Pa., on Sunday, March 5, to battle Mercyhurst at 9:30 a.m., and Penn State-Behrend at 12:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
