2008 Woodie Awards
Women's water polo takes third at Easterns
By Matt Matusek
Issue date: 4/1/05 Section: Sports
The Rock women's water polo team split four games over the past two weeks while finishing third at Division II Easterns on March 20.
The Rock lost its first game against Mercyhurst College, 6-5. Slippery Rock had defeated Mercyhurst in its first two meetings of the season.
"It was a tough loss, very disappointing," coach Jim Yeamans said. "We played hard. Mercyhurst is a quality opponent, you can't come out slow against them."
However, SRU bounced back in its next two games defeating Queens College (15-9) and Salem College (16-3) to take home third place honors in the tournament, which took place at SRU.
Erika Brunner returned from her head injury to once again be the driving force behind the Slippery Rock offense. She accounted for eight goals and seven assists in the three games during the tournament.
Yeamans is happy to have his leading scorer back in the lineup.
"She's a quality player, of course it's good to have her back," Yeamans said.
Brunner garnered the most votes to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team, along with teammate Amanda Zychowski.
Zychowski totaled three goals, six assists and seven steals throughout the tournament.
Beth Choike had three goals, Amie Marshall and Lisa Sobocinski added two goals apiece and Ashley Goodwill also added a goal in the three-game tournament.
Shallow-end goalie Rachelle Stice, who also came back from an injury, had a save and a steal while in net, and compiled three goals, one assist and one steal while on offense.
Kelly Leibolt had five saves and assisted one goal while playing in net.
Gannon College defeated Mercyhurst in the championship game on Sunday afternoon.
On Tuesday, March 29, Slippery Rock lost another tough game to Washington & Jefferson College, 11-7.
"W & J jumped out on us early, and when you get down early it's tough to get back into the game," Yeamans said.
Yeamans blames mistakes and slow starts as two reasons that the team is 7-15 right now, and not the other way around.
The Rock lost its first game against Mercyhurst College, 6-5. Slippery Rock had defeated Mercyhurst in its first two meetings of the season.
"It was a tough loss, very disappointing," coach Jim Yeamans said. "We played hard. Mercyhurst is a quality opponent, you can't come out slow against them."
However, SRU bounced back in its next two games defeating Queens College (15-9) and Salem College (16-3) to take home third place honors in the tournament, which took place at SRU.
Erika Brunner returned from her head injury to once again be the driving force behind the Slippery Rock offense. She accounted for eight goals and seven assists in the three games during the tournament.
Yeamans is happy to have his leading scorer back in the lineup.
"She's a quality player, of course it's good to have her back," Yeamans said.
Brunner garnered the most votes to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team, along with teammate Amanda Zychowski.
Zychowski totaled three goals, six assists and seven steals throughout the tournament.
Beth Choike had three goals, Amie Marshall and Lisa Sobocinski added two goals apiece and Ashley Goodwill also added a goal in the three-game tournament.
Shallow-end goalie Rachelle Stice, who also came back from an injury, had a save and a steal while in net, and compiled three goals, one assist and one steal while on offense.
Kelly Leibolt had five saves and assisted one goal while playing in net.
Gannon College defeated Mercyhurst in the championship game on Sunday afternoon.
On Tuesday, March 29, Slippery Rock lost another tough game to Washington & Jefferson College, 11-7.
"W & J jumped out on us early, and when you get down early it's tough to get back into the game," Yeamans said.
Yeamans blames mistakes and slow starts as two reasons that the team is 7-15 right now, and not the other way around.
