This past Friday and Saturday, the women’s water polo team continued their season in California, taking part in the annual Loyola Marymount University Invitational. The Tigers started competition strong with two wins over Azusa Pacific University and Whittier College. Princeton fell on the second day of competition to hosts Loyola Marymount in a heartbreaking 6-7 loss.
This was one of the few losses the Tigers suffered this season. Indeed, the Princeton squad has shown a remarkably strong performance this year, dropping only three games total. The Orange and Black will need this consistency as they open conference play in the following weeks.
“The season is going very well so far. We’re really gelling as a team and our hard work is paying off,” said senior utility Pippa Temple. “We’re 11-2 right now, with our losses being very close games. I’m excited to see how we progress as a team with tough games coming up.”
Perhaps as testament to the team’s chemistry, the Tiger’s record is even more remarkable when one considers the heavy losses the team incurred due to graduation last year. In fact, the Princeton squad lost six seniors, including their two top scorers. However, the Tigers have not let that become an excuse for failure, but rather an inspiration for success.
“One of our goals for the season is to not let other teams underestimate us.We only have 12 players this year - the smallest team since I've been at Princeton,” stated Temple. “Yes, we lost a large class from next year, but the underclassmen have stepped up big time. We have some huge games against Indiana and Michigan coming up, and they'll be some of our top competitors at the Eastern Championship in April. We want to show those teams that we may have lost some bodies, but we are still a tough team who won't go down without a fight.”
The Princeton squad showed their fighting spirit in all three games last Friday and Saturday. The Tigers clinched a close win, edging out Azusa Pacific, 9-8. The Tigers opened strong with a 3-1 lead and maintained a healthy three-point-lead into halftime. However, it would be Azusa Pacific that came out fighting after the break, eventually tying the game at eight apiece. Sophomore utility Haley Wan would later seal the match with a goal with two minutes of playing time remaining.
Princeton would continue its strong performance, defeating Whittier, 12-8. However, the match proved much closer than the score line would indicate. Indeed, the Tigers traded blow for blow for much of the match. However, a defensive shutout in the final eight minutes of the game allowed the Tigers to ice the game.
Notable performances came from Wan, who contributed four goals and two assists, and freshman attack Eliza Britt, who added two goals and three assists to the tally. She also won all four sprints that match.
Princeton’s only loss of the invitational came from Loyola, who narrowly beat the Tigers, 6-7.
With conference play creeping closer, fans of Princeton water polo will have plenty to look forward to as the team faces longtime rivals Indiana University and the University of Michigan.
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