Princeton University
Hartwick
Players Mentioned
No. 12 Women's Water Polo Turns Away Hartwick in CWPA Semifinals, 14-7
April 25, 2015 | Women's Water Polo
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PRINCETON, N.J. – Racing out to a 6-0 lead, the 12th-ranked Princeton University women's water polo team cruised to a 14-7 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championship semifinal victory over Hartwick College at DeNunzio Pool.
Punching its ticket to a fifth-consecutive CWPA final, the Tigers will meet Indiana, who defeated Michigan in the day's other semi. Downing the Tigers 11-10 in last year's championship game, the Hoosiers also own a pair of victories over Princeton (W, 9-8/W, 13-12 3OT) this season. Having dropped seven-straight games to Indiana, the Tigers will be looking for their first win over the Hoosiers since securing a 10-5 decision during the 2007 season. Game time for tomorrow's (Apr. 26) final is set for 3 p.m.
Taking advantage of a Hartwick exclusion a minute and a half after the opening sprint, Haley Wan staked the home team to a 1-0 lead by slotting her 32nd goal of the year into the bottom right corner. Inside of the four-minute mark, Ashleigh Johnson forced a steal to start a Tiger counter. Holding the ball on the left side, Ashley Hatcher bounced one into the far post to double the Princeton lead.
After A. Johnson made a save on a Hartwick penalty shot, the Tigers quickly went on the offensive. Controlling the ball on the near side, Hatcher notched her second tally of the afternoon, this time sneaking a shot inside the left post. With under a minute to go in the period, Chelsea Johnson added to the Princeton lead, making it 4-0.
Opening up the scoring in the second quarter, Sydney Cheong took advantage of another Hartwick exclusion, putting away her 16th goal of the season. Following an A. Johnson save from point-blank range, Taylor Dunstan rushed forward on the breakaway, burying her first of the game at the 6:33 mark of the second to make it 6-0.
Following a second Dunstan tally, Hatcher netted her third of the day, successfully converting a penalty inside of the five-minute mark to push the Princeton lead to 8-1. In the waning moments of the period, Hatcher looked inside to C. Johnson, who rifled a backhanded finish into the back of the cage to pad the cushion.
With Hartwick netting the first goal of the third quarter, Morgan Hallock quickly answered, recording the Tigers' 10th score just inside of the six-minute mark. Later up 10-4, Dunstan raced ahead of the pack thanks to a great outlet, rattling in her third of the contest off the right post. With just two seconds left in the third, Hallock struck again, beating a couple defenders to a ball in front to make it 12-4 heading into the final frame.
Dunstan and Hatcher each finished with three goals, with Hatcher also tallying three assists. Pippa Temple chipped in with two goals and three helpers, while C. Johnson and Hallock had a pair of scores apiece. Wan and Cheong also got on the board for the Tigers, while combining for two steals and three drawn ejections.
Logging 26 minutes, A. Johnson finished with eight saves. Taking over for Princeton's starting netminder at the six-minute mark of the fourth, Helena van Brande made a pair of stops.
Goals: Hatcher 3, Dunstan 3, C. Johnson 2, Hallock 2, Temple 2, Wan 1, Cheong 1
Assists: Hatcher 3, Temple 3, Hallock 1, Klein 1, Holechek 1
Steals: C. Johnson 2, Wan 1, Hooks 1, Cheong 1, Temple 1, Klein 1
Ejections Drawn: Hallock 3, Klein 2, Cheong 2, C. Johnson 1, Wan 1, Temple 1
Sprints: Wan 3-0, Klein 0-1
Saves: A. Johnson 8, van Brande 2