Princeton University
Colorado State
Players Mentioned
No. 20 Women's Water Polo Goes Perfect at Princeton Invitational
February 12, 2012 | Women's Water Polo
The No. 20 Tiger women's water polo team went a perfect 4-0 to open the 2012 campaign at the Princeton Invitational. After beating Harvard and Mercyhurst on Saturday, Princeton defeated Colorado State, 6-5, and concluded weekend action with an 11-2 victory over Villanova.
The Tigers opened up day two action outlasting Colorado State, who entered the game receiving votes towards a national ranking, with a fourth quarter comeback. In the first quarter, Katie Rigler quickly made it a 2-0 game in favor of Princeton, but the Rams would outscore the Tigers 5-2 in the second and third quarters to hold a 5-4 advantage. CSU's lead was short lived, as Ashley Hatcher capitalized on a 6-on-5 play to even the score and the Tigers added a final strike to earn the victory.
Goalie Kristen Ward made 10 saves in the game, while Hatcher, Rigler and Brittany Zwirner had a field block apiece. Princeton also had 16 steals in the game, with center Saranna Soroka tallying a team-leading four.
The offense was led by Rigler's three goals and Hatcher, Jessie Holechek and Soroka each added a goal of their own.
In the final game of the weekend versus Villanova, goalie Katlin Poladian tallied eight saves in her first start of the season to help guide the Tigers to their fourth consecutive victory.
The Wildcats kept pace with Princeton after the first quarter of play, but it was the Tigers who would take off and score four goals in both the second and third quarters to hold a 9-2 advantage. Princeton's offensive attack added a final pair of goals in the fourth to conclude the game.
Hatcher, Laura Martinez and McBee each scored two goals, while Taylor Dunstan, Rachele Gyorffy, Rigler, Soroka and Audrey Zak notched a goal apiece versus the Wildcats.
The Tigers had 17 steals in the game, with Dunstan, Holechek and Rigler leading the way with three each.
Princeton next heads to Lewisburg, Pa. to participate in the two-day four-game Bucknell Invitational from Feb. 18-19. The Tigers will face Gannon, Marist, Siena and Wagner in their first road trip of the young season.
Princeton: 2 - 1 - 1 - 2
Colorado State: 0 - 3 - 2 - 0
Goals: Hatcher 1, Holechek 1, Rigler 3, Soroka 1
Assists: Gross 1, Holechek 1, McBee 1
Saves: Ward 10
Princeton: 1 - 4 - 4 - 2
Villanova: 1 - 1 - 0 - 0
Goals: Dunstan 1, Gyorffy 1, Hatcher 2, Martinez 2, McBee 2, Rigler 1, Soroka 1, Zak 1
Assists: Dunstan 1, Gross 2, Hatcher 1, McBee 1, Zwirner 1
Saves: Poladian 8
Princeton Invitational Day 2 Results: