PRINCETON, N.J. — The No. 16-ranked Princeton University women’s water polo team opened the program’s 2023 season and the Princeton Invitational with a trio of victories at DeNunzio Pool as the Tigers topped Bucknell University, 5-0 Forfeit, No. 15 University of California-San Diego, 11-10, and Long Island University, 17-6.
Following a 5-0 forfeit win over Bucknell, the Tigers began the game against UC-San Diego with three straight tallies with one from Kayla Yelensky and two by Jovana Sekulic. The Tritons ended the quarter with two of three to set the score at 4-2 as the second frame got underway.
UC-San Diego tied the game at four-all with 3:43 left in the second quarter. The teams exchanged goals before the Tritons scored with five seconds to go to hold a 6-5 advantage at the break.
Sekulic opened the second half with her third tally, before UC-San Diego countered with two straight to go back in front. Tallies from Rachael Carver and Shanna Davidson tied the meeting at eight-all as the fourth quarter began.
The game was tied for a fifth and sixth time in the fourth frame before Sekulic came up clutch for Princeton wth 25 seconds left to escape with an 11-10 victory.
For Princeton, Sekulic led the way with four goals, while Yelensky chipped in three. Carver, Genevieve Fraipont and Davidson each deposited solo markers in support of a 12 save effort by goalkeeper Laura Larkin.
In the late game, LIU scored the first goal of the second quarter to get within one, 4-3, before Princeton rolled off four straight to end the half. That streak continued with four more to open the second half as the Tigers stretched their lead to nine at 12-3 and coasted to an 11-goal victory.
Sekulic, Yelensky and Kate Mallery each accounted for three goals, while Carver and Shanna Davidson dropped in pairs. Meera Burghardt, Fraipont, Ava Houlahan and Annie Robinson swished solo strikes. Lindsey Lucas earned her first victory in cage for the Tigers with 12 saves.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
