Women's water polo pounds Villanova, now heads to Bucknell

When a coach pulls all six of his starters three minutes into a game, it typically means something has gone drastically wrong. For women's water polo, however, the move was an indication of why the Tigers have been so dominant in their early-season schedule.

Princeton showcased its surprising versatility again Thursday night, jumping out to an early lead and blasting past overmatched Villanova, 15-5.

Head coach Luis Nicolao stepped to the edge of the pool with four minutes left in the first quarter and his team already up 3-0, and simply shouted, "Everybody!"

The Princeton squad turned in unison and climbed from the pool. As six of their teammates leaped into the water to replace them, there was no dip in performance or intensity. The Princeton lead climbed to 6-1 before the quarter ended.

By the end of the game, nine different Tigers had scored in the 10-goal rout.

Sophomore utility Courtnee Mee and freshman driver Karina Reyner lead the Princeton attack, netting three goals apiece.

While few would have tabbed Villanova the favorite heading into Thursday night's match-up, the ease with which the Tigers dispatched the Wildcats was a surprise. Villanova participated in the Princeton Invitational only two weeks ago, when they managed to stick with a tough Harvard squad for most of the contest.

"In the last two weeks, we worked a lot on our six-on-five offense," said Mee. "We practiced setting up quickly and it really paid off."

The extra preparation was evident throughout, as the Tiger offense was particularly deadly when they had a one-player advantage.

"All the things the coaches are throwing at we seem to be catching onto pretty quick," Mee added.

Princeton's depth has been particularly valuable of late, as injuries and sickness have plagued the team ever since practices began. The Tigers travel to Lewisburg, PA to participate in the Bucknell Invitational, and playing two games a day on Saturday and Sunday will test the team's mettle.

The Tigers face three top-tier teams this weekend in Bucknell, Indiana, and Hartwick. A game with Slippery Rock rounds out the schedule.

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Fourteen to fifteen members of the team routinely will see action using the typical Princeton rotation, and that strategy will play to the Tigers' advantage during exhausting two-day Invitationals. By the time the weekend is through, the Tigers' status among the East Coast elite will be much clearer.