Indiana University
Azusa Pacific
No. 12 Hoosiers Too Much for Azusa Pacific
3/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 10, 2012
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers women's water polo team (15-4, 1-1 CWPA West) overwhelmed Azusa Pacific with a steady attack throughout, defeating the Cougars 14-8 at the Roadrunner Invitational on Saturday.
Shae Fournier led the way on the offensive end for the Hoosiers, notching a hat trick with each coming in the first half. Nina Escobedo, Alexis Jones, Meghan Lappan, and Colleen McNaught each recorded two goals. Summer Creighton, Kym King, and Shelby Taylor had one apiece in the win. The pair of goals from Escobedo and Jones marked career-highs for both freshmen.
Freshman Jojo White made her first career start and notched a career-best eight saves and dished out a pair of assists in 32 minutes of action.
McNaught had the hot hand early on, scoring two of Indiana's three first period goals, while Fournier had the third and the Hoosiers led 3-2 at the end of the opening quarter. Fournier has posted three or more goals in 11 games this season.
The Cougars tied it up in the early stages of the second period, converting a goal as the shot clock expired.
Fournier answered for the Hoosiers after an assist by McNaught to give Indiana a lead that they would not relinquish. McNaught finished the contest with a team-high three assists.
The two teams traded goals near the midway point of the second stanza with the IU goal coming from Lappan and the Hoosiers led 5-4 with 4:32 remaining in the first half.
Indiana closed out the half with a furious four-goal surge from Fournier, Lappan, Escobedo, and King to grab a commanding 9-4 lead at the break.
The Hoosiers picked up where they left off to open the third, scoring 55 seconds into the action as Escobedo converted after a long outlet from White. The Cream and Crimson increased the lead to seven with a goal from Jones after an assist by freshman Shelley St. Omer Roy.
After a pair of Azusa Pacific goals, Taylor rounded out the quarter with a power play goal to take a 12-6 lead into the fourth.
The Hoosiers scored the first two goals of the fourth period to extend the lead to eight. Creighton notched the first after an assist by freshman Katie Contreras and Jones followed it up with her second score on the assist by Creighton.
The Cougars tacked on two goals in the final three minutes to bring the final margin to six.
The Hoosiers are back in action at 8:00 a.m. PT on Sunday against Wagner, followed by an 11:15 a.m. meeting with the host CSU Bakersfield.
| Box Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| No. 12 Indiana | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| Azusa Pacific | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Indiana Goals: Fournier 3, Escobedo 2, Jones 2, Lappan 2, McNaught 2, Creighton 1, King 1, Taylor 1
Indiana Saves: White 8
