CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The No. 13-ranked Princeton University women’s water polo team overcame Bucknell University, 19-5, and No. 16 the University of Michigan, 10-9, at Harvard University’s Blodgett Pool in a pair of Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) contests.
Taking on Bucknell, the Tigers ripped off four of the first five goals and led 4-2 after the first stanza.
Ahead by two, 6-4, Princeton went on a four-goal spurt to lead 10-4 at the break.
The Tigers pitched a shutout in the third quarter and were never threatened in the second half.
Emese Batizi registered her first career hat trick, while Kendall Wyer also added a three-goal contest.
For Princeton, Batizi (three), Wyer (three), Rachael Carver (two), Shanna Davidson (two), Kayla Yelensky (two), Hadley Harbilas (two) and Olivia Krotts (two) posted multi-goal games with Ava Houlahan and Margaret Brandin chipping in solo markers.
In the later contest, Michigan ran off the first three goals and led 5-1 after eight minutes of action in a rematch of the 2024 CWPA Championship game at Harvard.
The Wolverines scored the first tally of the second frame before the Tigers started making a run.
After the two teams exchanged tallies, head coach Derek Ellingson‘s crew ended the first half with four straight goals to get within one, 7-6. Houlahan scored the final tally of the first half with one second to go.
Goals from Carver and Houlahan put the Tigers in front for the first time as the fourth quarter started.
The CWPA rivals played even before Houlahan scored the game-winner with 1:32 to go in the contest, her fourth tally of the night.
For Princeton, Houlahan led the way with four markers, while Kate Mallery and Carver deposited pairs. Batizi and Yelensky accounted for the remainder of the defending CWPA Champions offense.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
