Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Pacific
Hoosiers Win Overtime Thriller Against No. 17 Pacific
3/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 16, 2010
STOCKTON, Calif. -
The No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers (13-5) women's water polo team scored two goals in the final three minutes of overtime to defeat No. 17 Pacific, 10-9, in thrilling fashion. The win marks the fifth straight for the Hoosiers and gives Indiana a 3-2 lead in the all-time series against Pacific.
"It was a great all-around effort out there," said Indiana head coach Barry King. "We really showed a lot of toughness coming back from one down in the overtime."
Jakie Köhli led the way with four goals and four steals, including a steal on Pacific's final possession to seal the win. Lauren Wyckoff notched three goals for the Hoosiers, while Kelsey Campbell, Kelly Palmberg, and Nicole Redder each fired in one goal apiece.
Cassie Wyckoff played brilliantly in the cage, collecting a career-high 17 saves, including 13 in the second half and overtime.
Pacific got on the board first with a goal at the 6:46 mark in the first quarter, but Köhli responded with a hard skip shot after an assist by Lauren Wyckoff to knot things up 1-1 heading into the second quarter.
The game had the look of a defensive struggle early on, but the offense picked up on both sides as the teams combined for 81 shots in the contest. The Hoosiers launched 42 shots, which is seven more than their previous season-high of 35 against Colorado State.
Pacific struck first in the second quarter with a power play goal to regain the lead before Wyckoff converted a post-up goal to lock things up at 2-2. Pacific came back with a goal from the post at the 4:38 mark as the teams continued to exchange goals during the period. The game featured seven ties and four lead changes.
Köhli converted on a five meter penalty shot after Kara Butler earned the foul with just over four minutes to play in the half. The Tigers came back 21 seconds later with another 6-on-5 score to take a 4-3 lead into the intermission.
Indiana came out of the break on a mission, coming through with four straight goals to take command momentarily. Redder entered the ball to Wyckoff, who scored on a nifty backhand from five meters. Palmberg then found the net to give Indiana its first lead of the game at 5-4. Wyckoff then completed her third hat trick of the season with a turnaround goal from the post after an assist by Köhli. Redder continued the Hoosier run with a long-range goal to give the Hoosiers their largest lead of the contest at 7-4.
As the Hoosiers threatened to break things open, Pacific came back to notch two goals before the end of the period, making it a 7-6 Indiana lead heading into the fourth. The Tigers then capitalized on another power play early in the final period to tie things up at 7-7. Pacific scored on four of their five power play opportunities throughout the game.
Köhli scored her third goal of the game on a power play with 3:29 left in regulation when Campbell found her with a quick assist as the exclusion occurred to give the Hoosiers an 8-7 lead. The Tigers responded with an important goal with 41 seconds to play as they scored on a 2 on 1 break to send the game into overtime.
Pacific put the pressure on early in the extra session, scoring just 32 seconds into the action. Indiana mounted attacks of their own, but were unsuccessful until the second portion of the overtime. Wyckoff continued her stellar play in the cage, making crucial stops throughout the overtime.
Campbell tied the contest at the 2:22 mark in the second half of the overtime after Wyckoff found her with a long outlet pass that left her with a one on one opportunity with the Pacific goalkeeper which she capitalized on. Köhli then made the deciding play in the game with a power play score, which came off an assist by Redder to give Indiana a 10-9 lead with 1:39 remaining. As the Tigers came down on their final possession, Köhli knocked down a pass for her fourth steal of the game to seal the victory for the Hoosiers.
The Hoosiers will put their win streak on the line on Wednesday at No. 7 San Jose State at 2:00 p.m. PT.
