Princeton University Athletics
Water Polo Upsets No. 13 U.C. San Diego To Open Spring Trip
March 12, 2004 | Women's Water Polo
March 12, 2004
San Diego, Calif. - Madeline McCarthy made seven saves including four in the first quarter to lead the Princeton women's water polo team to a 6-4 upset of No. 13 U.C. San Diego. The Tigers, ranked No. 19 entering the weekend, used strong defense to recover from a slow start and break a 2-2 halftime tie.
"This was a big win for such a young team as ours," head coach Luis Nicolao said. "It was a great way to get this trip started."
Only three players scored for Princeton and all were freshmen. Jazmin Brown had a team-high goals while Elyse Colgan added two and Danielle Carlson had one. The Tigers came out slow, losing their first sprint and going 0 for 2 on their 6 on 5 opportunities for a 1-0 deficit after the first quarter. McCarthy limited San Diego's damage by saving four early shots on goal.
Brown won the sprint to open the second and scored two goals in the quarter as Princeton knotted the score 2-2 at the half. She won the sprint in the third and scored a counter attack goal to go along with Colgan's first goal of the game, giving the Tigers a 4-3 edge entering the final quarter.
Brown won her third sprint to start the fourth quarter and Princeton scored on its one man-up opportunity to clinch the win. Carlson, who had a team-high four steals, scored her only goal of the game in the fourth. Colgan, Megan Donahue and Maegan Zitren each added three steals in Princeton's defensive win.
"We went just 1 for 8 on our man-up opportunities, so it was McCarthy and our great defense that were the keys to this win," Nicolao said.
Princeton plays UCLA at San Diego on Saturday at 12 p.m. followed by a matchup with Pacific at San Diego State at 4 p.m.