Indiana University Athletics
Soria Garners CWPA Western Division Honor
3/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 31, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For the second time in as many weeks and the third time this season, an Indiana water polo player garnered Collegiate Water Polo Association Western Division Player of the Week honors as junior Melissa Soria earned the distinction on March 30. Soria led the recently elevated No. 16 Hoosiers to a perfect 3-0 mark at the Fluid Five Challenge, March 25-26, with 11 goals in the three contests. The victories ran the Hoosiers' winning streak to four matches as IU has won 13 of its last 14 matches to improve to 17-8 on the year.
Soria joined senior Janis Pardy and junior Brooke Zimmerman in earning the Western Division accolade. Pardy earned the honor a week ago after helping IU to its second straight Western Division regular season crown, while Zimmerman received the award after the Princeton Invitational, Feb. 16-18.
"Melissa had an exceptional weekend at the Fluid Five," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "She has really been coming into her own as of late. She is gaining confidence with each game, and it was good to see her finishing as well as she did. We expect big things from her, and she is delivering."
In the opener against No. 16 Michigan, Soria finished with two goals and a steal. Additionally, she notched the first goal of the second half to tie the match at three as the Hoosiers went on to a 6-5 victory. The win marked the second straight weekend IU had knocked off its rival Michigan.
On Sunday, March 26, Soria recorded nine goals on 10 shots in victories over Wagner and Marist. In the first game of the day against Wagner, Soria equaled a career high with four goals, only to better it by one in the win over Marist. She became the 17th Hoosier to notch five goals in a game. The Villa Park, Calif., native scored IU's first three goals for a first period hat trick against Marist. Soria had two kickouts drawn against Wanger and one steal against Marist.
For the year, Soria ranks third on the team with 32 goals. She has started 23 matches and leads IU with 30 kickouts drawn.
The Hoosiers will go in search of their fifth straight 20-win season and eighth in the nine-year history of the program at the UC-Davis Shootout, April 8-9. IU will open up with a 12:05 p.m. contest with Cal State-San Bernardino before battling Colorado State at 5:30 p.m. on April 8. Indiana will face a pair of ranked foes on April 9. The Hoosiers will face No. 4 Loyola Marymount at 2:15 p.m. and then square off with No. 20 Santa Clara at 6:35 p.m.
