Women's Water Polo: Sudden-death thriller highlights opening tourament

Princeton opened its season against the Colonials, who lost to the Tigers last spring. The game was close through the third quarter, which ended at 5-3, but the Tigers ultimately pulled away for a 9-4 victory. The hosts capitalized on three of their six man-up situations while George Washington went 0-for-7 as it struggled to find the back of the cage.

“The first game was the first time we have been able to play another team and not just have an inter-squad scrimmage,” sophomore attack Brittany Zwirner said. “We were working through the plays and seeing how we play together with people who have not seen our plays before.”

The Tigers and the Colonials will rematch at DeNunzio next month.

In Saturday’s nightcap, Princeton beat Brown decisively 12-1. Princeton held the visitors scoreless until the third quarter, when they finally broke through on a power play. Princeton converted six of its nine man-up advantages on the game. In a game marked by rough play, there were many transfers of possession resulting from fouls away from the ball.

“This was the second game of the season. We came to play everyone, and we did,” Brown head coach Felix Mercado said. “Princeton wanted to win more today. It was clearly an important game to them.”

The Tigers and the Bears will also play again in April at the University of Maryland.

The most exciting game of the tournament came at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning. Squaring off against Colorado State, the Tigers never trailed but the Rams were never far behind, keeping the contest neck-and-neck throughout. The game was tied 3-3 at the half and 7-7 after the fourth quarter.

Early in the first overtime, the Tigers lost junior goalie Kirsten Ward to an ejection, but the Rams were unable to find the back of an unguarded cage. In the last second, Brittany Zwirner struck first on a man-up advantage. At the beginning of the second overtime, Colorado State answered the challenge and drew even. With the two goals by freshman center Katie Rigler answered by the visitors, the Tigers and the Rams entered sudden death.

Barely a minute into the period, Zwirner scored her fourth goal of the game, clinching the 11-10 victory.

“That was a great game. The girls and I really respect the Princeton program,” Colorado State head coach John Mattos said. “This is the way you would want to lose a game.”

In the last game of the weekend, two sets of Tigers faced off, each hoping to complete a perfect tournament. In the end, the felines from Pacific came out on top, 6-4.

The visitors got off to a quick start, taking a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Princeton pulled even at halftime with two goals from sophomore attack Rachele Gyorffy and one from freshman attack Molly McBee. Pacific took the lead again with three consecutive goals, however, and never relinquished the advantage. Princeton did not score until Rigler found the back of the cage on a man-up advantage with two minutes remaining.

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“We were really excited to start the season on a positive note,” senior tri-captain and attack Lauren Brunner. “The weekend was a great marker of where we stand and what we need to do to improve.”

Princeton will play again in two weeks at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship in Lewisburg, Pa.