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No. 19 Princeton Rallies to Down Maryland 7-6 and Reach Southern Division Championship Game
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The 19th-ranked Princeton University women's water polo team overcame a fourth quarter deficit to defeat the University of Maryland 7-6 in the semifinal round of the 2010 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Division Championship at DeNunzio Pool.
Trailing by a goal in the final period of play, Brittany Zwirner scored with 5:28 remaining to draw the Tigers even at six and a minute later Saranna Soroka scored to put Princeton ahead for good in the one-goal win. It was the second goal of the game for both Zwirner and Soroka, who joined Helen Meigs with two goals apiece in the win. Phoebe Champion netted the other Tiger goal in the win.
Princeton led by a goal after the first quarter at 4-3 and it developed into a more defensive game after that as just three goals were scored over the middle two quarters. Tied 5-5 entering the final frame, Maryland scored first to go ahead 6-5 before Princeton won it with consecutive goals. The Princeton defense was also strong when needed in the final quarter as Kristen Ward made six of her 11 saves in the final eight minutes of play.
Princeton is now 18-8 overall with the win. The Tigers advance to Sunday's Southern Championship game where they will meet Bucknell University at 1 p.m. The teams split their two regular season meetings. It marks the 10th straight year that Princeton has advanced to the Southern Championship game. Princeton has six Southern titles and last won it in 2008.
