Claire Jacobson

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Luis Nicolao, head coach of the Princeton water polo teams, announced the four members of the women’s class of 2012, as well as the team’s 2009 captains.

Seniors Liz Dilday and Claire Jacobson will serve as captains. Dilday was a team captain this past season as a junior, while Jacobson is coming off her top season as a Tiger as she scored 30 goals to rank third on the team in scoring.

The Princeton roster will feature four new faces in 2009 to go along with the 15 returning players. Princeton lost just one player, starting goalkeeper Natalie Kim, to graduation. Princeton was 20-11 last season, won the Southern Championship and placed third at Easterns. The members of Princeton’s Class of 2012 are listed below.

Cayley Bowles • Driver
Palo Alto, Calif. • Menlo School

“Cayley is a strong utility player that comes to us with a lot of experience,” says Nicolao. “She will be able to fit right in and fill many different roles for us.

Bowles served as her team captain at the Menlo School as a senior and she was selected as a first-team All-PAL and second-team All-CCS selection. In addition she was part of the bronze-medal winning Stanford Club team at the Junior Olympics. As a junior, Bowles helped her Menlo squad to a PAL and CCS championship and was a second team All-PAL choice.

Katlin Poladian • Driver
San Clemente, Calif. • San Clemente

“Katlin is another freshmen that will add some much needed size and defensive strength to our team. She has the ability to score and that will help her contribute immediately,” says Nicolao.

Poladian was a member of the San Clemente team that won the South Coast League Championship and was a CIF Section Quarterfinalist. Poladian won the CIF Southern Section Academic Award as her school’s female Student-Athlete-of-the-Year. Poladian was her team’s Most Valuable Player as a sophomore and is a USA Water Polo Academic All-America.

Kristen Ward • Goalie
Sacramento, Calif. • St. Francis

“Kristin is a starting goalie from a very strong high school program. We are looking forward to her coming right in and challenging for a starting position,” says Nicolao.

Ward was a four-year varsity letterwinner at St. Francis where she served as the starting goalie for a team that won its high school section twice and was the runner-up last season. Ward served as a team captain as a senior and holds her school’s record for career saves and saves in a season.

Audrey Zak • Driver
Carlsbad, Calif. • Carlsbad

“Audrey will be asked to step right in an be a major factor for us defensively. She has the size and speed to come in and match up with an opponents two meter man along with a very strong offensive game,” says Nicolao.

Zak has been a three-year starter at Carlsbad High School and helped her team to CIF runner-up finishes the last two seasons. As a senior, Zak served as her team’s captain and was a first-team all-league and All-CIF selection. She was also named Scholar-Athlete of the Year San Diego and her team’s most valuable defensive player and most valuable all-around player. Zak was her team’s most valuable player as a junior as Carlsbad won its league title.