Women's Water Polo: Tigers take second in CWPA South

This season, the women’s water polo team finished second in the CWPA Southern Division and fifth at Eastern Championships. Though the team added only two freshmen, both made a major impact, setting the stage for a successful season.

Against top-10 ranked teams such as Michigan and Loyola Marymount, Princeton proved to be a force that could fight back from behind. Though their opponents sometimes jumped to three goal leads while holding Princeton scoreless, the Tigers consistently remained unshaken. Fighting their way back into the game, Princeton not only closed the three or even four goal deficits but occasionally took the lead, though they failed to pull off any major upsets.

In their division, the Tigers defeated Brown, Harvard and George Washington but fell to University of Maryland. Due to the new organization of teams by the Collegiate Water Polo Association, these regular season results determined the Southern Division standings and Princeton’s second place finish. Over spring break, the Tigers took on nine powerful West Coast teams and finished 5-4, with all four losses coming against teams ranked in the top 10.

Junior goalie Kristen Ward, sophomore center Saranna Soroka, Zwirner, Rigler and McBee were all recognized as Southern Division Players of the Week throughout the spring. Rigler received this recognition on three different occasions and became the only person in the past three years to receive both Player and Rookie of the week.

“The women came a long way this year. Our freshman played really well and I am thrilled with the foundation we have laid for upcoming years,” head coach Luis Nicolao said.