Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Michigan (Michigan Kickoff)
Shorthanded Hoosiers Drop Season-Opening Pair to Ranked Foes
2/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 4, 2006
Michigan Statistics in PDF Format
UC-San Diego Statistics in PDF Format
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Playing without a pair of starters, the No. 11 Indiana women's water polo team opened the 2006 campaign with a pair of narrow defeats to ranked opponents on Feb. 4 at the Michigan Kickoff Tournament. The Hoosiers dropped an overtime affair to No. 17 UC-San Diego, 10-9, before they fell to rival and No. 8 Michigan, 11-7.
"We are playing a little short handed right now without Kristin (Zernicke) and Brooke (Zimmerman)," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "We need to get tighter defensively. We allowed too many attempts on goal, and we can't expect to win games giving up the number of goals we did on Saturday. Hopefully, we can get two wins tomorrow and get our bearings straight."
The Hoosiers led 3-2 after the first period and 4-3 at the halftime against UCSD. Both teams scored a trio of third period goals and IU entered the final eight minutes with a one-goal cushion, 7-6. The Tritons outscored IU, 2-1, in the fourth to send the contest to overtime.
Indiana notched the lone goal of the first three-minute overtime period to take the lead into the final extra frame. IU could not hold on as the Tritons hit the back of the net twice for a 10-9 victory.
Senior Janis Pardy notched her third career hat trick with a trio of goals against the Tritons. In her first match as a Hoosier, senior transfer Katie Parrish scored twice. Parrish transferred to IU from Fullerton College prior to her senior campaign. Indiana also received tallies from sophomore Linda Calvert, senior Clare Meadows and juniors Melissa Soria and Kara Woolley. Sophomore goalkeeper Jackie Pyrz had seven saves and three steals in goal for IU.
In the nightcap, the Hoosiers raced out to an early lead, but the host Wolverines rallied for an 11-7 victory. The Hoosiers led 2-1 after the first period on goals from Pardy and senior Courtney Livak. Michigan took a 5-4 before the half with four second-period goals. Livak added her second goal of the match and fellow classmate Meadows chipped in a tally to keep the Hoosiers close before the break.
After the Maize and Blue extended lead to 6-4 early in the third period, Pardy drew IU back within one on her second goal of the game. It would be as close as the Hoosiers would get. Michigan scored the last two goals of the period and had a 8-5 advantage into the fourth period.
The lead reached five after Michigan scored three of the first four tallies of the final stanza to take an 11-6 lead. Woolley and sophomore Brittany Estrada scored the Hoosier goals in the fourth period to close the margin to 11-7.
To go along with her two goals, Pardy finished the contest with an impressive stat line of four assists, three steals and three kickouts earned. The pair of goals for Livak marked the second time in her Hoosier career that she registered multiple tallies in a contest. Pyrz had nine saves in net for the Hoosiers.
"Janis really stepped up for us and played well today," King said. "She has taken on a leadership roll and is really the key to our offense. I also thought Clare Meadows had the best all-around game of her IU career against Michigan."
The Hoosiers return to action on the final day of the Michigan Kickoff Tournament at Canham Natatorium. Indiana opens the day against its third straight ranked opponent when it battles No. 7 Long Beach State at 8 a.m. IU will close out the tournament at 12:30 p.m. against Colorado State.
Players Mentioned
