When the Southern Championships roll around, the seniors on the No. 16 women's water polo team know how to do just one thing — win. Princeton is the top seed heading into the Collegiate Water Polo Association's (CWPA) Southern Division's league tournament for the fourth consecutive year. And for the past three years, Princeton has emerged victorious. Last April, Princeton defeated George Washington in the opening round, 12-6, before dismantling Maryland, 13-4, in the championship round.
The Tigers (17-7 overall, 6-0 CWPA) have won seven of their last eight games and four in a row. None of the other three Southern Division teams — Bucknell (12-14, 2-4), Maryland (13-16, 4-2) and George Washington (6-19, 0-6) — has defeated the Orange and Black since March 11, 2006 despite 16 opportunities to do so. This season, Princeton has four victories over the Terrapins and two each against the Bison and the Colonials.
But that is just the regular season. The postseason is another story entirely.
"For us, we look at it like it's a whole new season, and we understand that what we do at Southerns will directly impact our seeding at Eastern Championships," head coach Luis Nicolao said.
The Tigers pin their title hopes on the leadership of their star seniors. Princeton's co-captains — senior utility player Elyse Colgan and senior driver Karina Reyner — have combined for 108 goals this season, almost matching the total of the rest of the team. Senior center Samantha Shaughnessy looks to rally a defense that has allowed 8.4 goals per game in its last five games.
Defense is a potential Achilles heel for the heavily favored Tigers. To better protect the goal, the team has been practicing some new strategies, which Princeton will test out in the opening round against George Washington.
"This weekend we're going to concentrate on doing really good team defense and shutting down our opponents," Nicolao said.
When Princeton unveils its new defense, it will be doing so against the worst offense in the Southern Division and one of the worst in the region. The Colonials average a measley 7.4 goals per game.
Morgan Hooker, however, is a serious threat. The senior has 41 goals this season and became the program's all-time leading scorer on March 31 against Princeton. Hooker scored two goals in that game.
If the Tigers defeat the Colonials, they will play the victor in the Maryland/Bucknell first-round matchup. Princeton hasn't really struggled against either team this season, but both have formidable offenses. The Terrapins are known for their aggressive style of play, while the Bison scored 12 goals against the Tigers on March 9.
Against Maryland, Nicolao and his squad will have to watch out for Shannon Simerly and Elizabeth Hopkins on offense and Christen Vagts on defense. If the Tigers face Bucknell, they'll have to neutralize Valentina Rozas, who burned Princeton for three goals last Friday.
But perhaps the Tigers' toughest opponent this weekend will be themselves. Foul trouble has plagued the squad as of late. In last Saturday's victory over George Washington, Princeton committed 14 fouls. Luckily for the Tigers, the Colonials were only able to convert on three of their man-up scoring opportunities, and Princeton escaped with a 10-7 win.
"The key will be keeping our ejections to a minimum," Colgan said.
Injuries also have the potential to thwart the Tigers' championship plans. But two days before Southerns begin, Nicolao's squad is at full strength. Though standout junior goalkeeper Natalie Kim was sidelined for most of March by a stomach ailment, she is expected to be back at 100 percent for Saturday's games.
Ultimately, a strong game plan, good health and a revamped defense will be of little effect if the squad can't execute its plays. The Tigers will look to improve on their counterattacks and shooting percentage.
"I think that at this point in the season, we're all so familiar with each other that it is just really important to play well as a team," Nicolao said. "It's really a matter of showing up and playing well as a group. It comes down to team execution, who executes and who doesn't execute."
Princeton takes on George Washington at 10 a.m. Saturday in the University of Maryland's Natatorium. The winner will take on either Maryland or Bucknell at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the championship.
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