'Best team in the East' finishes stellar season

First place in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC). First place in the Southern Championships. Third place in the Eastern Championships. Four players given All-League honors. Southern Coach of the Year. It's hard not to call this a successful season for women's water polo.

The No. 20 Tigers' season ended last weekend in the Eastern Championships, where they pulled out a narrow 9-8 victory over Bucknell (23-9 Southern Division) to earn third place in the tournament and finish the season with an impressive record of 23-6. The Tigers had their sights set on an Eastern Championship as well, but for now they'll have to wait until next year.

"There is no doubt that we are disappointed with the finish, but with time I think we will all realize that this was a great year," head coach Luis Nicolao said.

The ECAC champion Tigers began the year with a 10-0 start before falling to Maryland, a team they would later come back to trounce on three separate occasions. This start established Princeton as one of the top teams in the league and earned them a No. 18 national ranking early in the season.

The Tigers followed their early dominance with a spring break trip to California where they faced off with the traditionally strong West Coast teams. While Princeton was overcome by some of the competition, the trip provided some valuable experience against top-tier teams.

"We could have done better in California, but the point was to get out and play some good teams. It was a learning experience," junior two-meter Jessica "MJ" Ajoux said.

These experiences ultimately helped the Orange and Black to pull out clutch victories on a number of occasions. Princeton toppled the formidable Bucknell Bisons in four separate matches, three of which were decided by one goal, and one of which went to double overtime. The Tigers also upset No. 17 Indiana in an overtime classic to prove they were the team to beat in the East.

In addition to its team achievements, Princeton is able to boast about a number of individual accomplishments as well. Junior two-meter Elyse Colgan was named to the U.S. national team in addition to being named the College Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Division MVP for the third straight year. Sophomore goalkeeper Natalie Kim and junior two-meter Samantha Shaughnessy both were named first team All-Southern players along with Colgan. Junior driver Karina Reyner was honored with a second-team All-Southern selection.

While these individual achievements and team victories proved memorable, both the coaches and players point to the team dynamic as the defining feature of this season.

"I think we had many highlights in the pool this year, but what I am going to remember most is how much I enjoyed this year and how much fun we had as a group. These girls really came together and it was fun to watch," Nicolao said.

The team cohesion led to a general team unity that certainly played a decisive role in the successful season.

"The chemistry was really good," Ajoux said. "We enjoy hanging out together, and it was definitely a positive part of the season."

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Looking forward, the graduating seniors will be replaced by a fresh group of recruits, all of whom will be contributing to the future success of the team.

Together, the Tigers are looking to continue the success they enjoyed by building on the foundation they established this year in practice.

"We had a lot of times when things just clicked. Our intensity was really good in practice, and we really just had a winning attitude," Ajoux said.

With many of the team leaders returning for another year of play, Princeton will be in excellent position to repeat as ECAC and CWPA Sothern Champions, and — if things swing its way — to become Eastern Champions as well.