The Rocket

Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Steve Reed Senior driver Beth Choike looks to pass during the Rock's 11-5 win over Penn State-Behrend on Tuesday night. Choike scored five goals in the victory, which moved SRU to 2-9 overall and 1-3 in the CWPA Western Division. [Click to enlarge]

The Slippery Rock women's water polo squad (2-9 overall, 1-3 Collegiate Water Polo Association Western Division) has had a problem offensively all season.

The team's defense has been stout, but the Rock was unable to score many goals over its first 10 games.

However, against Penn State University-Behrend on Tuesday, everything came together.

Led by senior Beth Choike's five goals, the Rock managed to score an 11-5 victory.

"It was great to get a win in front of the home crowd," Choike said. "To hear them cheer for you and go crazy when you score is a great feeling and it really gets you pumped."

Coach Jim Yeamans said he liked what he saw from the Rock's offensive attack.

"Beth stepped up and played well offensively," Yeamans said. "She made good decisions with shot selection and gave the team a boost offensively."

While the score was knotted at 2-2 after the first period, the Rock managed to add nine goals over the next three periods, overwhelming the Lions.

Junior Heather Walbright also stepped up her game offensively to help the Rock. She scored two goals in the victory.

Yeamans believes every victory is big because it will determine the Rock's seeding in the Western Division championships on April 18 and 19.

"We are going to make it to the championships, but we want to improve our seed," Yeamans said. "I would prefer not to draw a team like Michigan in the first round."

The Rock's victory could be a key boost for the Rock.

"Like coach said, the victory was important, not only in seeding, but just with our overall morale," Choike said. "Drawing Indiana or Michigan isn't what we want, but if that is what we get, then we will go at them with everything we've got."

The Rock will travel to Villanova University this weekend for the Villanova Invitational. The swing will be their last non-conference action of the season before they end the campaign with three divisional games.

At the invitational, the Green & White will face off against hosting Villanova, Utica College and Iona College. Iona and the Rock met earlier in the season, on March 15. Iona downed the Rock by a 15-2 score.

The first game will be against Utica on Saturday at 6 p.m. before the Rock squares off against Villanova on Sunday at 9:15 a.m. and Iona at 11:30 a.m.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools