Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Women's Water Polo Hosts League Weekend at DeNunzio
April 09, 2010 | Women's Water Polo
Princeton is 12-8 overall but 0-1 in the league after a loss at Bucknell two weekends ago. The Tigers were off last weekend, but with losses in their last three games, Princeton enters the final two weekends of the regular season looking to get on a roll in league competition. Princeton's five final games all come against Southern Division teams as the round-robin competition sets up the seeds for the 2010 Southern Championships, which will be held April 24 and 25 at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool.
The Tigers went 2-4 in league play last season and were the third seed entering the tournament when they knocked off second-seeded Bucknell, before falling to Maryland in the Southern title game. Bucknell currently sits atop the Southern standings with a 4-0 record, while Maryland ranks second at 1-1. Princeton at 0-1 and George Washington at 0-3 complete the standings.
Phoebe Champion leads Princeton with 39 goals this season, eight ahead of Brittany Zwirner's 31. The Tigers have eight goal scorers with at least 10 goals this season five with 20 or more. Helen Meihs has 20 goals and a team-high 35 assists to rank second on the team in total points with 55. Champion's 19 assists give her 58 total points.
Princeton has faced both Maryland and Bucknell already this season and split the two contests. On Feb. 27 in the ECAC semifinals, Princeton defeated Maryland 10-5 at DeNunzio Pool. Lauren Brunner and Champion each scored three goals in the win and Kristen Ward stopped eight shots as Princeton built a big early lead and never looked back. Princeton is 20-14 all-time against the Terps and 7-2 in games in Princeton. Maryland topped Princeton three times in 2009.
The Tigers played at Bucknell on March 27 in Princeton's first league game, which went to the Bison by 15-10 score. Bucknell raced to an early start in the game and stayed a step ahead of the Tigers throughout. Zwirner led Princeton with three goals and Meigs, Rachele Gyroffy and Saranna Soroka added two goals apiece. Princeton is 29-6 all-time against Bucknell and 9-2 at home in the series. The teams split four meetings last season.
Princeton and GW have not yet faced this season. Princeton is 30-0 all-time against the Colonials and 7-0 at home in the series. Princeton took both meetings for George Washington last season.