Women's Water Polo: Princeton sinks two opponents

“[In the] first quarter, we came out really strong and really well,” junior utility Phoebe Champion said. “After the first half we started pulling out, not countering as much and setting up more work on the actual offense. We stopped going after the easy goals that don’t require much teamwork to score.”

Leading the Tigers’ offensive display was sophomore utility Lauren Brunner — last year’s Southern Rookie of the Year — who scored five times on the weekend with three goals against the Lakers.

Also contributing to the offensive onslaught against Mercyhurst were senior center defender Elizabeth Dilday and freshman center defender Katlin Poladian, who each scored two points.

“We did a really good job connecting with one another and finding the open players against Mercyhurst,” Champion said. “We had a lot of six-on-five plays, and we were really good at finding the open player really quickly. There was a lot of good communication and connection.”

After defeating Mercyhurst, Princeton headed back to the pool for a night game against Villanova. The Tigers fended off the Wildcats in the first half, heading into halftime with a 3-0 lead.

In the second half, Princeton hit the water with a purpose, scoring 11 more times to control the remainder of the match and defeat the Wildcats 14-0.

“We did a good job of coming out really hard and not playing to their level,” Champion said. “When you play a lower-level team, it is a really good opportunity for the team to work out the kinks early in the season that still need to be worked out.”

The game marked the Tigers’ first shutout in nine years. The last one occurred when the team won 13-0 over a more familiar Philadelphia foe: Ivy League rival Penn. Following its bright start to the season, Princeton will go on the road to play against George Washington and Maryland on Sunday.

“I was nervous about Mercyhurst and Villanova, personally,” Champion said. “When you know you are playing a team of a different level, how your team reacts is a big sign of how well you will play in any circumstance. So I was really excited by how well we played. Playing against tougher opponents — like Maryland — will only force us to heighten our skills.”