Rachael Carver, a senior captain and attacker on Princeton’s women’s water polo team, is not a flashy player. Though she doesn’t bother to look at her own personal statistics, she does always look for the open teammate. During the Tigers’ game against Wagner College on Jan. 26, Carver broke Princeton’s all-time assist record, accumulating an astounding six assists on the day to break the previously standing record of 206 assists, bringing her grand total to 209.
The previous record of 206 belonged to Helen Meigs ’10 and had stood for almost 15 years. Carver is one of only two Tigers to break the 200 mark and one of only seven to ever record over 100 assists.
Growing up in seaside Laguna Beach, Calif., Carver told The Daily Princetonian that being in the water was always second nature to her, and that it was only a matter of time before she started swimming and eventually playing water polo.
“I started playing when I was eight and I never really looked back. My dad coached me over the years and I have two younger sisters as well who also play, so it runs in the family,” Carver told the ‘Prince.’ Carver’s father played Division I water polo at the University of Southern California. He was instrumental in encouraging Carver to take up the sport.
Carver never focused on raw statistical achievement. In fact, she said her parents were more concerned about her becoming the all-time assist record holder at Princeton than she was.
“The parents always keep up with the stats and as players, it’s not always something that we look at, it is just kind of something that comes to be as you play throughout your years,” Carver told the ‘Prince.’ “But going into that weekend, there was talk about it and my parents were in town to watch us play that weekend.”
During the match against Wagner, Carver said she could hear her mom counting down the assists that she needed to break the record.
“My mom was kind of in my ear about it saying you need six more assists to break the record,” Carver explained. “And when it did happen, I could hear her screaming in the stands like no other.”
According to her coaches and teammates, Carver’s selflessness is something that radiates in the pool.
Derek Ellingson, head coach of the Tigers, told the ’Prince’ that “although [the team] recognized she was close to achieving this record, her ‘team-first’ mentality shined through even amidst achieving such great personal success.”
Carver’s teammate, junior utility Shanna Davidson, couldn’t agree more.
“There are too many moments to count of Rachael being selfless. Every day in the pool you see it when she makes extra passes to set up our other teammates,” Davidson told the ‘Prince.’ “She works so hard to draw the defense away to open up those around her.”
Carver’s vision is immaculate in the pool, and as she started playing at Princeton, she only continued to be a force for the Tigers in this way. Typically found on the right side of the pool, she tends to make passes across great distances in order for her teammates to score. It was this same talent that was on display when she made program history in the Tigers’ 20–9 victory against Wagner.
“The way Rachael reads the game, communicates with her teammates, and competes to maximize her potential has evolved throughout her time at Princeton,” Ellingson said. “She has always been a pivotal player in our program, but her role as a leader both in her words and her actions has helped put this team in a position to compete at the highest level.”
Carver’s achievement is a testament to her dedication to the team. “There’s nothing better than a good pass leading to a great goal,” she told the ‘Prince.’
The Tigers are early on in their season, and the team can expect to see a lot more from Carver as the season continues. They are set to challenge Bucknell in Cambridge, Mass. in their next matchup on Feb. 22.
Emilia Reay is a staff Sports writer for the 'Prince'.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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