PRINCETON, N.J. – The No. 14-ranked Princeton University women’s water polo team earned a split during Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) action at DeNunzio Pool as the Tigers were taken down by No. 22 Brown University, 12-11, and turned back No. 11 Harvard University, 12-8.
The results place Princeton at 5-2 in league action this year, while Harvard falls to 8-2 and No. 15 the University of Michigan stands at 6-2. Effectively tied in the standings, Princeton split against Harvard this year (7-6 L, 12-8 W) and holds a 1-0 mark versus Michigan (10-9 W). Michigan rates at 1-1 against Harvard (9-7 W, 14-3 L) and 0-1 versus Princeton (10-9 L), while Harvard completed its meetings against the Tigers (7-6 W, 12-8 L) and Michigan (9-7 L, 14-3 W) with a 2-2 record. If Princeton runs the table in upcoming meetings with Mercyhurst University (twice), Michigan, Saint Francis University and Bucknell University, while Harvard remains undefeated the rest of the way, the Tigers will claim the No. 1 seed for the CWPA Championship at Brown on Friday-Sunday, April 25-27, due to +3 goal differential versus the Crimson. If Michigan – including a win over Princeton in their next meeting on April 5 in Ann Arbor, Mich. – and Harvard both run the table, Harvard takes the No. 1 seed thanks to a +9 goal differential in meetings between the Crimson and Wolverines.
The agita in the coming weeks for Princeton, Harvard and Michigan was brought about by Brown as Hanna Tidrenczel‘s goal with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter allowed Bruno to claim a one score win as the Bears railed from 11-8 fourth quarter deficit.
Princeton ripped off the three of the first four goals before Brown evened the contest at 3-all after eight minutes. After the two teams exchanged goals, Kayla Yelensky and Rachael Carver tallies put the Tigers in front, 7-5, at halftime.
After a Brown goal to begin the second half, Ava Houlahan, Olivia Krotts and Ally Lurie extended the Princeton advantage to four, 10-6. The home team led 10-8 as the fourth stanza got started, but the Bears rallied back from an 11-8 deficit in the closing minutes of the game to play spoiler from allowing Princeton to pull ahead in the division race.
For Princeton, Yelensky (four), Carver (three), Houlahan (two), Krotts and Lurie combined for the Tigers’ offense.
In a clash that could have clinched the No. 1 seed for Harvard, Princeton put on hold the Crimson’s regular season title hopes via a four-goal victory.
After a defensive battle that saw just one Harvard tally in the first eight minutes, both teams exploded for nine combined goals in the second quarter. Back-to-back goals from Yelensky to end the first half put Princeton in front by a 6-4 count. Yelensky scored a hat trick during the second stanza to pace the Tigers.
Carver started the second half with a tally before Harvard got within one twice. Another Yelensky goal made it 9-7 as the fourth frame got underway.
Ahead 10-8, tallies by Carver and Houlahan put the game away as Princeton’s defense kept Harvard off the scoreboard for the final 5:20 of game action.
For the Tigers, Yelensky (five), Houlahan (two), Carver (two), Emese Batizi (two) and Lurie dented the twine as Princeton kept its regular season title hopes alive.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
