No. 12 Hoosiers Outlast Wagner, 5-4

Sunday, March 11

Bakersfield, Calif.

8:00 AM

Indiana University

Wagner

Colleen McNaught led the way with three goals.

3/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo

March 11, 2012

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers women's water polo team (16-4, 1-1 CWPA West) held off Wagner, 5-4, on Sunday morning at the Roadrunner Invitational to pick up their fifth straight victory.

The Hoosiers came up with timely stops in the waning moments of the contest after surrendering an early four-goal lead.

Freshman Colleen McNaught posted her second career hat trick to lead the Hoosiers. Freshman Nina Escobedo and sophomore Shae Fournier notched one goal apiece in the win.

Senior goalkeeper Cassie Wyckoff registered nine saves and a steal for the Cream and Crimson.

After a scoreless opening period, the Hoosiers surged ahead in the second, scoring four goals in a span of 2:38 to grab the momentum.

Fournier notched the first IU goal of the day, spinning from her defender for the drive and finish. McNaught followed up a minute later with a long range strike to make it 2-0.

Freshman Alynn Reade earned a five-meter penalty shot near the midway point of the second period, which resulted in an Escobedo goal to put the Hoosiers up three. Escobedo would then be on the helping end of the fourth IU goal, finding McNaught open on the perimeter for the score to give the Hoosiers a 4-0 lead heading into the half.

Wagner rallied in the third quarter, outscoring the Hoosiers 3-1 to cut the deficit to two. The lone Indiana goal came from McNaught on a skip shot from near two meters after an assist by freshman Shelby Taylor.

After both offenses struggled to produce for most of the fourth quarter, Wagner converted a power play with 2:11 remaining to pull within one.

The Seahawks had a final chance to tie things up as they took possession with 35 seconds to play. Wyckoff came up with a timely steal on a deflected pass to secure the victory.