Women's water polo 3-0 on weekend

Practically undefeated.

That is the best description for the women's water polo team's preseason.

The Tigers, who finished their preparation toward the start of the College Water Polo Association League with an 8-1 record, mastered all top quality matches, including those at the Princeton and Brown Invitationals.

The only team Princeton didn't defeat was 13th-ranked Michigan, who defeated the Tigers in a painful game at the Brown Invitational. But after getting over that loss, the Tigers managed to defeat all of their rivals, and are now ranked 15th in the nation.

After defeating Harvard, Brown, and Queens at the Brown Invitational, Princeton's women's water polo team (11-1 overall, 3-0 CWPA) faced the weekend with a new challenge: the first three CWPA League matches in Washington, D.C.

With an overall record of eight victories and one loss, the Tigers were looking toward two intense days of competition in which they would encounter George Washington, Villanova, and Bucknell. But the rivals were apparently not a problem for Princeton.

The first and most difficult game was played against the host school, George Washington. Holding an overall record of 7-3, the Colonials were defending their home court advantage against the Tigers.

Princeton battled them to a 3-2 halftime lead, which was maintained through the third quarter. A four-goal burst by the orange and black put the match away in the final quarter, giving GW a 9-4 loss.

Junior Jenny Edwards, the Tiger star of the weekend, started what was going to be a great two days by scoring six goals against George Washington on Saturday. Senior Cassie Nichols tallied two goals and freshman Kelly Melia-Teevan scored one along side Edwards' six as the Tigers won their first CWPA game.

In addition, Nichols and junior Adele McCarthy Beauvais added two assists, and junior driver Joanna Armstrong had one. Freshman Madeline McCarthy played the entire game in net for the Tigers and registered seven saves.

Edwards continued to demolish the opponent's net tallying a team-high five goals against Villanova in the second match of the day. Princeton easily defeated the Wildcats 15-7 as McCarthy-Beauvais registered four goals, Nichols three, sophomore Annie Olson one, and freshman Kathryn Parolin two.

Madeline McCarthy and sophomore Lauren Lister each played a half in front of the net for the Tigers. McCarthy had two saves in the first half and Lister picked up four in the second.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

The final and easiest match was against Bucknell on Sunday. Led by McCarthy-Beauvais and Edwards, with five and three goals, respectively, Princeton defeated the Bison 19-5. Both junior Melinda Martin and Nichols scored two goals, in addition to the other nine Tigers who scored in their third CWPA match.

Freshmen Miller, Melia-Teevan, and Jessie Garton, along with sophomores Alexis Olle and Olson scored one goal in the last match of the meet. Nichols and Courtney Welsh each had three assists. McCarthy and Lister split the game in the net each tallying four saves. The goalies were only defeated four times, all by Wildcat sophomore Kelly Hofstetter.

Princeton now holds an undefeated 3-0 record in the CWPA league. With a great reputation on its back, the Tigers will now travel to California over Spring Break to participate in the San Diego Invitational in La Jolla.

Three days later Princeton will encounter Long Beach State and Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles and will attempt to maintain its practically undefeated overall record.