Women’s water polo hosts Princeton Invitational, looking for first win

This weekend, from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18, the Princeton women’s water polo team (0–4) will be hosting the Princeton Invitational at DeNunzio Pool. The last time that the Tigers hosted this invitational was in the 2016 season, when they faced two different teams (Cal Baptist and Cal Lutheran) and two returning teams (Villanova and Iona). During this three-day invitational, Princeton will play host to a variety of teams, including the Chinese National Team, George Washington, Iona, Wagner, Harvard, Bucknell, Marist, and Villanova.

This weekend, we will see the Orange and Black face off against the Chinese National Team, George Washington, Villanova, and Iona. This season, George Washington (3–1) is kicking off its season with new coach Barry King leading the way. During their debut weekend, the Colonials piled up 63 total goals. Villanova (0–3) has faced Bucknell, Hartwick, and Brown so far in its season during the Bruno Classic at Brown and it scored a total of 26 goals. Iona (2–8) has made an appearance at the Hoosier Invite at Indiana University and the Bruno Classic at Brown. It has made a total of 69 goals this season, with Hannah Schultz leading the way at 28 goals during its 10 games. The Chinese National Team is an exciting face-off for the Tigers this weekend as it have placed in the top 10 of the Water Polo World League for the past 10 years.

Among the teams that Princeton is hosting but not playing this weekend are the Harvard Crimson (3–2). Harvard made an appearance at the Hoosier Invitational as well as the Bruno Classic, where it scored a total of 76 goals during its five-game sequence. Wagner (4–3) has faced against ranked teams in the Michigan Invitational and the Bruno Classic. The Seahawks have recorded 83 goals during their seven games. Bucknell (6–2) is another team coming to the invitational. It has played at the Bruno Classic as well as the Bison Invitational, where it scored a total of 98 goals in the eight games it has played. Last but not least, Marist (1–7) will be joining the other teams at the Princeton Invitational. Marist has played at the Rainbow Invitational at University of Hawaii, the Michigan Invitational, and the Bruno Classic, scoring a total of 53 goals in its eight games this season.

The Tigers are expected to put up a fight against the three teams they are playing, with senior two-meter specialist Chelsea Johnson leading the Tigers with five goals this season and four other athletes with four goals each. Junior utility Lindsey Kelleher also holds a team high for eight points in a single game (two goals and six assists).

Princeton will play four games throughout the weekend. Following Friday’s game against the Chinese National Team at 5:30 p.m., the Tigers will take on George Washington (11:45 a.m.) and Iona (4:45 p.m.) Saturday. They conclude the weekend against Villanova (9:15 a.m.) on Sunday. All four games will be streamed live on the Ivy League Digital Network.