Princeton University Athletics
Cassie Nichols Named MVP of Water Polo's Southern Division
April 28, 2002 | Women's Water Polo
April 28, 2002
Princeton, N.J. - Cassie Nichols, Princeton's senior captain, was recently named the MVP of the Southern Division and teammates Adele McCarthy-Beauvais and Jenny Edwards were also named to the division's first-team. Recently the Tigers competed in the Southern divisional tournament, where despite a seven-goal effort by Nichols, the Tigers fell to the Wolverines of Michigan in the championship game, 10-9. Nichols is the third Tiger to be named MVP of the Southern Division and joins the ranks of McCarthy-Beauvais '03 and Goga Vukmirovic '00.
The Tigers defeated Gannon 14-7 and Mercyhurst 18-5 in the opening rounds and George Washington 16-3 in the semifinals of the Southern championships. McCarthy-Beauvais scored nine goals over the course of the tournament's four games and Edwards registered eight. For Nichols, Princeton's loss to Indiana, in the third-place game of the Eastern championships on April 29, was the last match of her Tiger career.
A two time All-America selection, Nichols has played many roles for the Tigers over the course of her career. As a freshman Nichols promptly set the school scoring record with 97 goals and help the Tigers earn their first ECAC championship, first Southern championship and Princeton's second trip to the NCAA tournament. Because of her outstanding performance her rookie season, Nichols earned All-America and All-Eastern Honors.
Nichols' stats her sophomore year weren't as flashy as those from her freshman season but her talents and contributions to the team didn't go unnoticed. For the second time in her career, Nichols received All-America honors as well as first-team All-East and Mid-Atlantic. In a similar fashion, the Tigers' success in the 2001 season was grounded in Nichols' ability to be in the right spot at the right time. She finished second on the team with 57 goals and led the Tigers with 51 assists. She led Princeton in man-up situations and earned first-team All-Southern and ECAC honors last year.
In all the Tigers have won three ECAC championships, two Southern titles and made two NCAA appearances with Nichols in the pool. As the Princeton offense has become more and more powerful, Nichols has performed as the consistent leader her senior year.
She has shattered the all time assist record and set a new Princeton record when she scored seven goals in a single game.