Rams water polo team places second in home tournament

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Feb. 8, 2009

Tournament program, including complete results

By Zach Balside
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The CSU Rams women's water polo squad earned second-place in the second annual Colorado State Invitational tournament, including another win over UC Santa Cruz on Sunday to improve the Rams' conference record to 2-0.

CSU (3-6, 2-0 Western Water Polo Association) beat the Banana Slugs 9-7 in a close and physical match early Sunday morning, which advanced them into the championship game against California, the fifth-ranked team in the nation.

The 9-7 win over UCSC was the only game of the tournament in which at least one team did not finish with a double-digit scoring total. Assistant coach Mike Moody connected some of the tight defense with some loose officiating.

"Today they let the defense play," Moody said. "It limited scoring opportunities on both sides."

The Rams had a dangerous two-goal lead with less than 2 minutes remaining, but a key goal from sophomore Orsi Nadasdy gave them some breathing room.

Also, a noteworthy performance in goal by Krystyna McCright helped the Rams defeat UC Santa Cruz. She came up with 10 saves and multiple steals in a gutsy effort.

"She knows the game well enough that she can come out and steal the ball," Moody said. "That's one of the components she adds to our defense."

The Rams were hoping for a different outcome in their early afternoon rematch against Cal, to whom they lost Saturday night, 20-9. But on Sunday, they could not upset the fifth-ranked Golden Bears, losing 15-7. Cal's freshman goaltender Stephanie Peckham stood on her head, recording 10 saves in the first half.

"You're not fifth in the nation without a great goalie like her," Moody said.

The Rams were jumped by the Golden Bears early and found themselves in a 6-1 hole after one quarter. But as the game went on, the Rams were able to play Cal tighter and kept up with the juggernaut the rest of the way. The Rams outscored Cal 4-2 in the final frame, including a score with 2 seconds left on the clock by senior Emily Chambers.

In all, the Rams were satisfied with their weekend.

"We came out of the weekend 3-2, played Cal tough twice, and ended up in the championship game," Moody said, "Huge success, all the way around."

And as has been stressed since practice began in fall, teamwork was the name of the game this weekend.

"If one girl was off her game, another girl picked up her slack," Moody said. "It was a total team effort."

The Rams' next games are Saturday and Sunday at Cal-State Bakersfield's tournament in Bakersfield, Calif.

Game 1: Colorado State vs. UC Santa Cruz
At CSU Invite, Fort Collins, Colo.
UC Santa Cruz 1-1-1-4=7
CSU 1-3-2-3=9
Goals -- UCSC: Keating 3, Muzzini, Ward, Chadwich, Hanson. CSU: Ostling 3, Berry 2, Custy 2, Nadasdy 2.
Saves -- UCSC: Parra 11. CSU: McCright 10.

Game 2: Colorado State vs. California
At CSU Invite, Fort Collins, Colo.
Cal 6-4-3-2=15
CSU 1-2-0-4=7
Goals -- CSU: Chambers 2, Ostling, Nadasdy, Rapp, Armstrong, Pavlik. Cal: Hewko 5, Lorenz 3, Champion 2, Corso 2, Csikos, McLaren, Cappelletti.
Saves -- CSU: McCright 12. Cal: Peckham 10, Burke 4.

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