The women's water polo team continued to move up in the national standings this week, going from No. 17, its ranking just two weeks ago, to No. 15, its ranking last week, and reaching its current standing at No. 13.
Thursday, at Denunzio Pool, Princeton (13-4 overall) routed Queens College (6-6). The Tigers then traveled to Villanova, Pa., to defeat Salem International (0-8), Villanova (6-15) and George Washington (13-9) on Saturday. Sunday, Princeton triumphed over Bucknell (11-10) in its last game of the season.
The chief concern for the Tigers last week was keeping their mental game sharp. After coming back from a spring break in which the team competed against some of the top-ranked teams in the nation, Princeton knew it ran the risk of becoming too lenient against its unranked opponents in the East.
"A lot of the time, our failures have been mental [losses]," sophomore defender Kelly Melia-Teevan said. "We went from beating the 10th team in the nation to playing these teams that aren't even ranked. So [these games] were more of a mental test, in that sense, of maintaining the level of play we know we're capable of."
Princeton managed to pass this test, however, with a total score of 66-23 in its five games.
Thursday, the Tigers participated in their fourth and last regular season home game against Queens College after spending the previous nine games on the road. They defeated the Knights handily, 16-2.
Senior co-captain two meter Adele McCarthy-Beauvais led the Tigers in scoring with four points. Senior co-captain two meter defender Jenny Edwards and freshman two meter defender Courtney Mee also earned hat tricks in the contest.
Senior defender Melinda Martin posted two points, and junior driver Annie Olson and freshman defender Keala Carter each scored a point to help give Princeton the win.
Sophomore Madeline McCarthy also played a crucial role between the posts with seven saves, which allowed her teammates to execute more plays and put the ball in the back of the other net.
On Saturday, the team took to the road again and traveled to Villanova to confront Salem International, Villanova and George Washington all in one day. The Princeton Tigers faced the Salem International Tigers first, clawing their way to the top with a resounding 11-1 victory. Martin and Melia-Teevan led the team with three goals each.
Sophomore two meter Kathryn Parolin drove two balls into the net, and McCarthy-Beauvais, Edwards and freshman defender Anne-Lise Maag contributed a goal apiece.
In the second game, Princeton went up against host Villanova, and defeated the Wildcats soundly, 11-5. Edwards was the top scorer with three points. McCarthy-Beauvais and Parolin also put two each in between the posts. Melia-Teevan, Mee, Maag and freshman defender Megan Donahue also helped out by putting in goals. McCarthy made four stops to contribute to the Tigers' win.
The third game of the day, against George Washington, should have seen some weary faces, but the high 14-10 score in Princeton's favor did not indicate fatigue.
"It was a long day on Saturday," McCarthy-Beauvais said. "[But] we were able to spread the scoring around, [and] we came out pretty strong."
Edwards led the Tigers in scoring with four goals; McCarthy-Beauvais followed right behind with three. Parolin and Donahue each put up two, and Melia-Teevan, Maag and Carter also snuck one past the Colonials' goalie. McCarthy kept the George Washington offense in check with seven stops, ensuring the Princeton win.
With the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship coming up this Friday, the Tigers' main objective will be to keep their focus. Doing this is what allowed them to upset No. 10 University of California at San Diego and what has caused Princeton's steady climb in the national rankings.
"I just try to do the same thing before every game," McCarthy said. "Whether it's the top ranked team, UCLA, to a team that's not ranked, I keep every competition the same."
If they continue to compete at the level of play they have so far, the Tigers have a good chance of taking home the ECAC title.
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