Polo team to face familiar rivals

This weekend, the water polo team will compete against familiar foes as the Hoosiers travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., for its second weekend of Collegiate Water Polo Association conference play. IU is the only undefeated team in CWPA.\nIU will meet Slippery Rock Saturday and No. 13 Michigan Sunday, both of which the Hoosiers played in the Michigan Invitational Feb. 17 and 18. \nThe No. 17 Hoosiers (11-5-1, 4-0 CWPA) clobbered Slippery Rock 17-4 in that tournament and tied Michigan 4-4. Slippery Rock won the CWPA Allegheny Division title last season with a 21-8 record.\nIU and Michigan met six times in 2000, with each school winning three times.\nThe Hoosiers traveled to Davis, Calif., during spring break, where they went 3-2, losing only to No. 5 San Jose St. and No. 20 California State Baptist.\n"We have done some good things so far this season, and are looking forward to the second half of the year," coach Barry King said. "We are getting closer to our goal of winning the conference."\nIn the first weekend of conference play, in which IU went 4-0, the Hoosiers were steadied by strong play in goal. Freshman Ginna Irwin and junior Kirsten Mayberry allowed only 12 goals in the four games. \nIrwin is one of a host of freshmen helping the Hoosiers. Five first-year position players have combined for 39 goals, 38 assists and 69 steals this season. \nBalance has also aided IU, as 14 different Hoosiers have scored and 13 players have four or more assists. Sophomore Kristin Stanford, who led IU in goals last season with 51, is again leading the way, tallying 34 goals this season. Stanford also has a team-high 16 assists.