HONOLULU, Hawaii – The No. 9-ranked Princeton University women’s water polo team collected a split during day two of the Rainbow Invitational at the University of Hawaii. The Tigers tumbled against No. 5 Fresno State University, 8-7, and managed Azusa Pacific University, 11-6.
The first quarter was high scoring affair versus Fresno State with seven goals. The Bulldogs scored back-to-back goals to go in front, 4-2, before Shanna Davidson moved the Tigers back within one at 4-3 with 23 seconds remaining in the first eight minutes.
Davidson scored the only goal of the second frame, tying the game at four-all. She also recorded the first goal of the second half for Princeton before Fresno State notched consecutive tallies to jump back ahead, 7-5. Kayla Yelensky threw one in the back of the cage as time expired to end the third stanza.
Fresno State answered again, but Ava Houlahan closed the gap to one, 8-7, with 1:34 to go in the contest. The Tigers pulled the goalie with 21 seconds left but their shot was knocked away to allow the Bulldogs to get the win.
Davidson finished with three goals in the loss, while Houlahan deposited a pair. Yelensky and Meera Burghardt chipped in solo markers to support a seven save effort by goalie Lindsey Lucas.
In Princeton’s weekend finale facing Azusa Pacific, Yelensky scored her first goal of the contest with 24 seconds to go in the first quarter to give Princeton a 2-1 lead.
Tied at three-all, the Tigers ripped off four straight goals to end the first half with tallies from Yelensky, Kaila Carroll and Ally Lurie.
Azusa Pacific got as close as three in the third stanza before goals from Olivia Krotts and Yelensky stretched the Tigers’ advantage to five, 10-5, as the fourth quarter got started.
The Tigers were not threatened the rest of the way
Yelensky set a new career high with five goals in the victory, while Carroll (two) and Lurie (two) also posted multi-score games. Krotts and CiCi Stewart tacked on solo strikes. Lucas stopped 11 shots to garner her first victory of the season.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
