IU looks for NCAA tourney berth

One team will advance this weekend to the Collegiate Water Polo Association Eastern Conference Championship. Seven will see their seasons come to an end.\nThe eight teams will compete in Bloomington at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center this weekend, where the No. 10 Hoosiers are the top seed, for the chance to advance to the NCAA tournament May 13-15.\nIU is undefeated at home this season. However, with a season on the line, competition will be fierce. IU coach Barry King knows winning this weekend will not be an easy task.\n"Even though we come in as the No. 1 seed, I would not consider that being the favorite," King said. "There are four teams in this tournament, including IU, that come in with essentially the same competitive resume. The semis and finals will be extremely competitive games."\nThe other three top teams are No. 2 seed Michigan, No. 3 seed Princeton University and No. 4 seed Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.\nThe Hoosiers posted a 2-1 record against the Wolverines this year, recording their first win in 17 tries on Jan. 29, but losing in overtime of the CWPA Western Division Championship game last weekend. All of the IU-Michigan games this season have been one-goal decisions.\nPrinceton has a 26-7 record this year and is ranked among the top 15 teams in the country. The Hoosiers are 5-7 all-time against the Tigers, but have won the last four match-ups.\nIU faces a potential rematch from last year's conference tournament in the semi-finals against Hartwick, a team which edged the Hoosiers 6-5 last season. IU's first-round opponent will be No. 8 seed George Washington University, a team the Hoosiers have never lost against. The Hoosiers have beaten the Colonials in each of the last three conference tournaments. \n"(George Washington) is a very young team," King said. "They are almost a brand new team from last year. But I have always liked how their coach has prepared teams for the post season. They will play hard and present some firm challenges for us."\nDespite all the challenges, the Hoosiers are focused on achieving their season-long goal of winning the Eastern Conference championship.\n"From day one the first thing we have talked about has been winning Easterns," King said. "Everything we do during the year points to this weekend. We have played well and worked hard to earn a top seed and make sure our chances our good. It is a matter of everyone bringing their best game to the pool. If we do that, we feel like we can win it."\nSenior goalkeeper Jessica Goldner is confident in her team's ability as long as it stays focused.\n"As long as we do not look ahead of ourselves we will be OK," she said. "We cannot just assume we will be on top. We have to play each game as it comes and prove we belong on top."\nAfter losing by one in overtime last week, senior attacker Kandace Waldthaler is ready to get back in the pool.\n"I am really excited to play," she said. "Especially after last weekend, it has been all I have been thinking about all week. I think our chances are good. We have to come out strong in every game and not underestimate anyone."\nSenior attacker Krista Peterson expects playing at home will give the team an added edge this weekend.\n"I think that it is really good that we are playing at home," she said. "Given that we played so well at home a few weeks ago, I feel like we have a definite advantage. But we will need to be at our best because teams play really hard in this tournament." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Steve \nBrennan at sgbrenna@indiana.edu.