March 28, 2010

Indiana Finishes Undefeated at 2010 Fluid Five Tournament

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -– The No. 16 Indiana University Hoosiers (17-7, 2-0 CWPA West) women's water polo team collected a pair of wins over Wagner College, 8-3, and California State University-East Bay, 17-10, at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center to conclude the Fluid Five. The host Hoosiers won each of their four games over the course of the two day event.

"I was pleased with our play for the majority of the weekend," said Indiana head coach Barry King. "We just need to keep working hard and stay focused as we enter an important stretch of the season."

In the first game of the day against Wagner, the Hoosiers were led by Kelsey Campbell with three goals. Lauren Wyckoff had a pair, while Kate Dunn, Jakie Köhli and Kelly Palmberg each tallied one. Cassie Wyckoff played a complete game in the cage, notching eight saves on 23 shot attempts.

Both teams got off to a slow start on the offensive end. The Indiana defense did not allow a Seahawk shot attempt until the 4:20 mark of the first quarter. Wagner scored the opening goal from close-range with 1:34 to go in the first period. Their only lead of the contest would last 21 seconds, as Campbell scored after a cross pass from Köhli to knot things up at one goal apiece after the opening quarter.

The Hoosiers found their comfort zone in the second period, getting goals from Campbell, Palmberg and Wyckoff to take a 4-1 halftime lead.

Indiana continued to build their lead early in the third, as Köhli pump-faked her way to a long-range goal after an assist by Lauren Wyckoff. Köhli also finished the contest with a career-high seven steals as she continually caused problems in the Wagner passing lanes. Wyckoff then added her second goal of the game, firing in a shot to the corner of the net to make it a 6-1 Indiana lead heading into the final quarter.

Both teams scored two goals apiece in the fourth, including scores by Dunn and Campbell. Campbell's goal marked the second hat trick of the season for the junior.

The final game of the tournament against Cal State East Bay featured fast paced action and a plethora of scoring. The Hoosiers were led by the junior duo of Nicole Redder and Lauren Wyckoff, each netting four goals in the win. Kelsey Campbell, Hanna Eimstad and Jakie Köhli notched two goals apiece, while Katie Black, Kara Butler and Kelly Palmberg finished with one each.

Katie Carson had a strong performance in the cage, making 15 saves for the second time this season. Carson, in her final home game at Indiana, also collected one steal in 32 minutes of action.

The opening period was a back and forth affair with each team scoring five goals. Redder fired in two of Indiana's first quarter markers, while Butler, Campbell, and Wyckoff accounted for the other three. Wyckoff's goal with 3:36 to play in the period marked the 100th career score for the junior.

Indiana set the tone in the second quarter with an offensive blitz, reeling off seven scores, including three by Wyckoff and two from Köhli. Redder and Eimstad also each added goals in the quarter to increase the Hoosiers' lead to 12-6 at the half.

The Hoosiers kept rolling to start the third quarter, notching four straight goals to increase their lead to 16-6 with two minutes to play in the period. The Pioneers broke the 11-1 Indiana scoring run by finding the net twice before the end of the third, including a post-up goal as the clock expired.

Black added the final Indiana goal of the game, scoring after an assist by Kym King. CSUEB would tack on a pair of goals in the final two minutes to leave the final margin at 17-10.

Indiana will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. on Saturday, April 3 for a divisional clash with No. 8 Michigan. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET, but the game will be broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network on a tape-delay at 9 p.m. ET. The contest will decide the top seed in the CWPA Western Division Championship on April 24.

Release courtesy Indiana Athletic Communications


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