Princeton University-vs.-Harvard University Scoresheet (PDF)
LEWISBURG, Pa. — 2018 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Rookie of the Year Marissa Webb (Fr., Danville, Calif./San Ramon) made 12 saves to notch Player of the Game honors as the No. 10-ranked Princeton University Tigers overcame a slow start to drop No. 23 Harvard University, 12-4, on the first day of the CWPA Women’s Varsity Championship at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.
Princeton (22-7, 8-0 CWPA) fell behind 2-0 less than 2:30 into the game as Harvard (16-18, 2-6 CWPA) reeled off natural (7:12) and penalty shot (5:46) goals by Kristen Hong (Jr., Orinda, Calif./Miramonte).
The Tigers erased the deficit in short order as Lindsey Kelleher (Jr., South Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic) and Sydney Cheong (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) put away even-strength strikes at 5:11 and 3:42, respectively, prior to Haley Wan (Sr., Irvine, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) giving Princeton its first lead (3-2) with 1:18 left in the opening quarter of play.
Mathilde Ribordy (So., Quebec City, Quebec/LesHydres de Quebec) evened the damage at three-all prior to the conclusion of the frame as she flushed a man-up opportunity with 41 seconds on the clock.
The goal marked Harvard’s final tally until the 2:41 mark of the third quarter as Princeton put together a 4-0 outburst that spanned the second quarter and the first 5:19 of the third quarter.
Kelleher started the spurt with 6:15 left in the first half prior to Chelsea Johnson (Sr., Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) tapping in back-to-back goals at 5:22 and 33 seconds to make it 6-3 by halftime.
Amy Castellano (So., Yorba Linda, Calif./Yorba Linda) enlarged the lead to 8-3 with man-up strikes at 6:29 and 2:54 in the third quarter prior to Sofia Carrera-Justiz (So., Coral Gables, Fla./Ransom Everglades) finishing out the frame with a power-play score at 2:41 to move the Crimson within four at 8-4.
Kelleher (5:51) and Johnson (5:21) completed hat-tricks in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter with back-to-back six-on-five goals before Maddie Pendolino (Fr., Burlingame, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) deposited consecutive even-strength markers at 3:05 and 2:25 for the 12-4 final score.
For Princeton, which advances to face No. 14 Indiana University at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, in the tournament semifinals, Kelleher and Johnson both notched hat-tricks. Castellano and Pendolino tacked on pairs of goals with Wan and Cheong each finding the back of the cage once.
The victory marks the second of the season for the Tigers against the Crimson as Princeton topped Harvard 13-7 on April 15 in the regular season finale for both programs.
Harvard receive a pair of goals from Hong and single scores by Carrera-Justiz and RIbordy in support of a seven save performance by netminder Cleo Harrington (Sr., Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor).
The loss drops Harvard into the consolation side of the bracket as the Crimson will return to the pool at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, to take on the victor of a clash between Bucknell and Saint Francis University with a spot in the Fifth Place game on the line.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 23 Harvard University | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 |
| No. 10 Princeton University | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | – | 12 |
| Princeton Goals: | Lindsey Kelleher (3); Chelsea Johnson (3); Amy Castellano (2); Maddie Pendolino (2); Haley Wan; Sydney Cheong | |||||
| Harvard Goals: | Kristen Hong (2); Sofia Carrera-Justiz; Mathilde Ribordy | |||||
| Saves: | Princeton – Marissa Webb (12) ; Harvard – Cleo Harrington (7) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Princeton – 11 ; Harvard – 10 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Princeton – 4-for-10 ; Harvard – 3-for-11 | |||||
| Sprints: | Princeton – 2-for-4 (2nd, 4th) ; Harvard – 2-for-4 (1st, 3rd) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Alex Stankevitch, Humberto Navarro | |||||
Harvard University’s Kristen Hong (#13) shoots as Princeton University’s Amy Castellano (#12) and Abbey Blake (#13) defend
Harvard University’s Cleo Harrington (#1)
Princeton University’s Chelsea Johnson (#2) tries to complete a pass as Harvard University’s Sami Strutner (#11) charges forward
