Princeton University
Hawaii
Players Mentioned
Holechek Game Winner Lifts No. 8 Women's Water Polo Over No. 5 Hawaii, 7-6
May 09, 2015 | Women's Water Polo
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
STANFORD, Calif. – Jessie Holechek netted the game winner with just four seconds remaining in regulation to lift the eighth-ranked Princeton University women's water polo team to a thrilling 7-6 victory over No. 5 Hawaii at the Avery Aquatic Center.
Avenging a 7-6 loss to the Rainbow Wahine during the regular season, Princeton improved to 31-4 on the year and will advance to face the winner of UC-San Diego and UC-Irvine in tomorrow's NCAA Championship fifth-place game. Princeton's 31 victories match a program record set last season.
Staking Hawaii to an early lead, Zoe Respondek snuck a shot past junior goalie Ashleigh Johnson at the 6:46 mark of the first quarter. Forcing a turnover on the other end, Ashley Hatcher buried an equalizer just 20 seconds after the restart.
Taking advantage of a Hawaii exclusion, Morgan Hallock carved out space on the left side before tucking the Tigers' second score inside the near post. Moments later, the Warriors again answered as Clair Nixon tied it off a Chloe Barr assist.
With time winding down on a Princeton possession early in the second quarter, Haley Wan put the Orange and Black back in front with her 34th goal of the season. Putting away her second of the afternoon, Hatcher skipped a shot inside the left post at 3:53 to make it 4-2. Coming right back, Paula Chillida Esforzado linked up with Gabi Mantellato Dias, to pull Hawaii within 4-3 at the intermission.
After Nixon rang a penalty shot off the left post earlier in the third quarter, Barr successfully converted a 5-meter at the 3:32 mark of the frame to once again bring Hawaii even. Bobbling a pass at the far post, Chelsea Johnson recovered and notched a power play goal to push Princeton back in front. Doubling the Orange and Black lead early in the fourth, Pippa Temple raced forward on a counter attack before slotting the Tigers' sixth tally inside the left post.
Hoping to jumpstart the Hawaii attack, Chillida Esforzado floated a drop shot over the outstretched arms of A. Johnson and into the Tiger cage with 5:37 to go in regulation. Just over a minute later, Barr rifled a high shot past the Princeton netminder to suddenly pull the Rainbow Wahine even.
With under a minute to play, Barr again looked to goal, but this time Johnson got a hand on the try to keep the Tigers level. Moving into the offensive zone with 22 seconds remaining, Princeton looked to Holechek, who fired a long cross-cage shot into the back left corner of the net to put the Tigers up for good.
Six different Princeton players scored a goal, led by Hatcher with two. With her two tallies, Hatcher became just the fifth player in program history to surpass the 200-goal plateau. Wan added two assists, while Holechek nabbed a pair of steals. Taylor Dunstan drew a pair of ejections, while A. Johnson finished with 10 saves.
Goals: Hatcher 2, C. Johnson 1, Wan 1, Hallock 1, Temple 1, Holechek 1
Assists: Wan 2, Hallock 1, Holechek 1
Steals: Holechek 2, A. Johnson 2, Hooks 1, Cheong 1, Temple 1, Saxe 1
Ejections Drawn: Dunstan 2, Wan 1, Hallock 1, Klein 1
Blocks: Hallock 1
Sprints: Wan 2-2
Saves: A. Johnson 10