Defense Guides Hoosiers to Day 1 Sweep at Bruno Classic

Saturday, February 4

Providence, RI

8 AM

Indiana University

Marist

Defense Guides Hoosiers to Day 1 Sweep at Bruno Classic

2/4/2017 7:34:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score: IU vs. Marist Box Score: IU vs. Wagner Bruno Classic Central

Gaudreault delivers 25 blocks, two assists from cage

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers returned to the pool from a two-week hiatus with the Bruno Classic, which began Friday evening at Brown University. A stingy showing from the Hoosiers' (5-2) defense led to a pair of top-25 victories. Indiana took down No. 23 Marist, 9-4, before handing No. 21 Wagner a 10-2 result.

Leading the defense in the cage was junior goalkeeper Jessica Gaudreault, who recorded 25 saves with 2 assists and 3 steals in Saturday's double-header. On offense, three Hoosiers scored more than one goal in each contest. Kelly Matthews led the bunch with 6 goals in total, followed by Joelle Nacouzi (5) and Jennifer Beadle (4).

Game 6: Fast Start Leads No. 13 Hoosiers Past No. 23 Marist
Indiana 9, Marist 4
IU: 4 – 1 – 1 – 3
Marist: 0 – 2 – 1 – 2
Indiana Goals: Nacouzi (3), Beadle (2), Matthews (2), Myers (1), Young (1)
Marist Goals: Doerfler (2), Amorosa (1), McGlothlin (1)
Gaudreault: 12 saves

Indiana began Saturday morning with a familiar non-conference opponent, No. 23 Marist. The Hoosiers turned on the jets in the first quarter, building a 4-0 lead en route to a 9-4 victory.

Freshman Joelle Nacouzi led the opening effort, scoring two of her three goals in the first eight minutes. Nacouzi also led the Hoosiers with two assists and three steals. The first quarter scores doubled an early 2-0 lead established by a pair of goals from Sarah Young and Jennifer Beadle.

Marist halved the deficit with two scores to start the second quarter. The Hoosiers pushed their halftime lead to 5-2 on Kelly Matthews' power play goal, her first of two scores in the game. In the third quarter, teams exchanged one goal apiece, with Beadle picking up her second goal of the day for Indiana.

The Hoosiers protected their lead down the stretch with three unanswered scores by Nacouzi, Matthews, and Sarah Myers in only 1:07 of game clock. The goal by Nacouzi was her third of the game, marking her first career hat trick.

Jessica Gaudreault completed an efficient shift in the cage with 12 saves and a pair of steals, her fifth game this season with 10-plus saves. Karrie Kozokar contributed to the defensive effort with two steals, followed by Myers, Beadle, Kendall Doten, and Mollie Williams with one apiece.

Game 7: Hoosiers Stifle No. 21 Wagner Attack, Win Third Straight
Indiana 10, Wagner 2
IU: 2 – 2 – 3 – 3
WAG: 0 – 0 – 0 – 2
Indiana Goals: Matthews (4), Beadle (2), Nacouzi (2), Williams (1), Myers (1)
Marist Goals: Watson (2)
Gaudreault: 13 saves

The Hoosiers wrapped up Saturday's top-25 slate with their most uncompromising defensive performance of the season, a 10-2 win over No. 21 Wagner. Gaudreault led Indiana with 13 saves and 2 assists in transition, along with a steal.

For the second game in a row, Matthews, Beadle, and Nacouzi lit up the scoreboard for multiple goals. Williams slotted her first goal of the weekend to add to a couple of assists, while Myers notched her second score of the day with an assist, 2 sprint wins, and a team-leading 4 steals

Indiana didn't concede a Wagner score for the first 29 minutes of game. Matthews led the first half attack with 2 goals, helping build the Hoosiers' 4-0 lead by halftime.

That lead extended to 7-0 by the end of the third quarter. Matthews found 2 more goals in that span, after Beadle placed her second score of the game. Wagner mustered a pair of power play opportunities in the waning minutes of the quarter, but the Hoosiers held firm.

In the final quarter, Indiana scored 3 more times before giving up the Hawks' first score of the game. Nacouzi, Williams, and Myers all found the back of the cage in the first three minutes.

Wagner ended the shutout bid on Kimberly Watson's 5-meter penalty shot with 2:45 remaining in the contest. Watson scored again with 1:21 left in the quarter, bringing the final tally to 10-2 in favor of the Hoosiers.

Up Next: Day 2 of the Bruno Classic
Sunday, February 5
8 a.m. ET | No. 13 Indiana (5-2) vs. Azusa Pacific (1-1)
3 p.m. ET | No. 13 Indiana (5-2) vs. Brown (4-0) [Exhibition] | Video ($)
Katherine Moraine Coleman Aquatics Center • Providence, R.I.

Indiana returns to the pool for one game and one exhibition on Sunday's conclusion of the Bruno Classic. Starting off, the Hoosiers will meet Azusa Pacific for their second-ever game, the first coming back in 2012. After that, Indiana receives an early look at CWPA foe Brown in the form of an exhibition game. The exhibition against Brown will stream live via the Ivy League Digital Network (subscription required).