Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Cal State Northridge (Wolverine Invitational)
Hoosiers Split Pair Against Ranked Foes at Wolverine Invitational
3/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 18, 2006
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The No. 19 Indiana women's water polo team split a pair of matches on the opening day of the Wolverine Invitational against two ranked opponents. The Hoosiers opened with its second win in as many days over a ranked foe as they defeated No. 18 Cal State-Northridge, 10-9. On March 17, the Hoosiers claimed their second straight CWPA Western Division regular season title with a 6-4 win over No. 15 Michigan. IU had its nine-match winning streak come to a halt at the hand of No. 7 San Diego State, 12-5, in the evening match on March 18. Indiana stands at 13-8 on the season.
In the morning match against the Matadors of CSUN, the Hoosiers scored a trio of goals in the opening two periods and led, 6-4, at the half. Both teams scored three markers in the third period before IU notched a single tally in the fourth period to claim the match.
Junior Melissa Soria turned in the best performance of her first season with the Hoosiers. The Villa Park, Calif., native notched a team season-high four goals in the win over the Matadors. It was Soria's second hat trick of the season. Senior Janis Pardy also notched a hat trick with three tallies against Northridge.
For the second time this season, the Hoosiers played the highly-ranked Aztecs tough for three periods. SDSU led by two, 3-1, at the end of the first period and carried it over to the half at 5-3. San Diego State scored seven second-half goals compared to just a pair for IU to record the victory.
Earlier this season against San Diego State at the UCSD Triton Invitational on Feb. 11, the Hoosiers led late into the third period only to see the Aztecs rally. With IU leading 5-4, SDSU went on a five-goal run before the Hoosiers could respond. Indiana rallied to draw within 9-7 before the final horn in the earlier match between the two schools this season.
Junior Brooke Zimmerman led IU with a pair of goals. It marked the second time this season Zimmerman notched multiple goals against SDSU after she notched her first career hat trick in the first meeting between the squads. Soria and seniors Bridget McKeon and Clare Meadows each tallied a goal for the Hoosiers against San Diego State.
IU closes out the Wolverine Invitational with a single game on Sunday, March 19, when it faces California Baptist at 8:30 a.m. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2002 season.
Players Mentioned
