With such a successful record, one would find it hard to believe the women's water polo team (20-3 overall, 8-0 Collegiate Water Polo Association) is composed of 10 freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors and one senior. After claiming its first Mid-Atlantic championship this weekend in Villanova, Pa., however, this young squad has established itself as a dominant force in the East.
With its 13-4 defeat of Maryland Saturday and 9-3 win over Villanova in the finals Sunday, Princeton continues to add to its already impressive collection of accolades.
"The team is great," senior captain and goalie Goga Vukmirovic said. "One could hardly guess we are such a young team by watching these girls play — they have the confidence and skill that are well beyond what one could possibly expect. We have a very deep team this year — their youth only comes through in their choice of music in the van rides."
The Tigers headed into the tournament with the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship title in their possession as well as an 11-game winning streak. Like last season, the Tigers have remained undefeated in the CWPA. The team, which last year posted a 14th-place finish in the nation, continues to climb the ranks.
"Winning this weekend was the most amazing feeling this season," freshman two-meter Adele McCarthy said. "We came out of the tournament glowing."
Flying high
For the Tigers, this victory means revenge. Last year, the squad broke its 17-game winning streak when it fell to Maryland, 9-5, in the championship game.
"It is always great to beat Maryland, but they are not the same team that beat us last year," Vukmirovic said. "But it is always great to beat them by such a wide margin."
The Maryland squad is not the powerhouse it was a year ago after losing its entire starting lineup to graduation. While the Terrapins are struggling to rebuild the team, the young Princeton squad boasts a No. 11 national ranking.
Beating Villanova also came as no surprise to Princeton. In their fourth meeting with the Wildcats this season, the Tigers cruised to their first Mid-Atlantic championship.
"We definitely knew what to expect from Villanova," McCarthy said, "but they played dirtier than we expected, which was unnecessary."
McCarthy, however, did not let the rough playing stop her from driving past an especially aggressive Wildcat defense to score four times, just one short of the number she tallied a day earlier in the pool against Maryland.
"Most teams come into the game with a plan for trying to put extra defensive effort on stopping Adele," junior two-meter driver Katherine Kixmiller said. "Her efforts as hole set keep up the momentum on our offensive end and she never gives in to the constant pressure she faces from other teams' defense."
Sophomore driver Cassie Nichols was a key contributor to the Tiger offense as well. Within the opening minutes of the Villanova game she scored twice from the four-meter mark.
Unselfish
"Cassie Nichols had a great game against Villanova," Vukmirovic said. "She not only has a great shot, but also an incredible ability to do draw kick-outs and four-meters. She seems just as happy to set up a teammate for a shot as she is to score."
Freshman two-meter Devon Watts also had a strong showing at the tournament, especially in the game against Maryland, in which she tallied two goals. Kixmiller had two steals against Maryland and recorded a goal in each game this weekend.
As for the defense, the Tigers got crucial plays from sophomore two-meter driver Megan Bouchier, junior driver Alina Brown and freshman driver Jenny Edwards, as well as the veteran goalie Vukmirovic, who had nine saves against the Wildcats.
"I think our speed and our defense helped us win this tournament," McCarthy said. "Goga, as always, leads us from the cage, but it was also great to see Devon Watts, Megan Bouchier and Alina Brown play so well."
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