|
Indiana Wins CWPA Western Division Championship for the First Time in School History
GENEVA,
Ohio – The No. 3 seed Indiana water polo team made history Saturday
morning by claiming the school’s first ever Western Conference
Championship with a 12-11 thrilling victory over No. 1 seed Hartwick at
the Myrtha Pool.
The opening minute was a preview
of what was to happen the rest of the match. Freshman center Candyce
Schroeder was able to create space down low and score for the Hoosiers,
but Hartwick’s offense was equally impressive and they tied it up
quickly.
Rebecca Gerrity completed her second
straight assist, this time to redshirt senior Jakie Kohli. Kohli
finished the match with two goals, a team high three assists, one
steal, and one field block. The veteran is now only seven goals away
from becoming Indiana’s all-time leading scorer.
Junior
Shae Fournier and teammates Alexis Jones and Carson Nestler each scored
for Indiana, showing off IU’s depth by adding the to the five different
Hoosiers to score during the first quarter.
It was
Hartwick’s turn to show off their offensive powers in the second
quarter. They scored on consecutive power plays and sent Indiana
clinging to a 5-4 lead at halftime.
The third
quarter opened with a Seahawks goal for the tie, but was quickly
countered by a goal from Meghan Lappan. Hartwick tied it again at 6-6,
but once again it was a dagger from Lappan that put Indiana ahead by
one.
The Hoosiers offense found its first quarter
rhythm late in the third by reeling off three consecutive goals from
Lappan, Shelby Taylor, and Colleen McNaught. By the end of the match
eight different players on Indiana’s roster had scored a point.
The
fourth quarter was more back in fourth action but it was goalie Jessica
Gaudreault’s save on a last minute Hartwick 5-meter attempt that could
have been the play of the game. Gaudreault ended the match with five
saves and three steals.
With the score tied and
only 32 seconds left on the clock, Shae Fournier drove the ball all the
way down the length of the pool, drew the exclusion, and then scored
the game-winning goal with four seconds remaining to give Indiana its
first ever Western Conference crown.
|
