No. 19 Indiana women’s water polo spent its weekend in Davis and Berkeley, California, competing against two top-10 opponents. The Hoosiers came home empty handed after losing to No. 9 University of California, Davis and No. 3 University of California, Berkeley.
The weekend was competitive for the Hoosiers as they only lost the two matches by a combined 3 points.
Indiana began the slate of games on March 16 in Davis, California, where they faced UC Davis. The Aggies entered the match with a five-game winning streak under their belt after beating then No. 10 University of California, Santa Barbara on March 12.
It did not take long for the Aggies’ offense to get rolling. Within the first three minutes of the game, UC Davis had scored three consecutive goals, two of which came from senior center Noelle Wijnbelt. Seconds later, Indiana’s senior center Robyn Greenslade responded with back-to-back goals tightening the deficit to 3-2.
Then with the clock ticking down, Indiana’s sophomore attacker Grace Hathaway found the net and tied the game 3-3 at the end of the first period. UC Davis gained the lead in the second quarter as they scored two goals in the period. Indiana was scoreless during the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 5-3.
The Hoosiers were productive in the third period as they outscored the Aggies 3-1. Greenslade scored her third goal in the third period which enabled her to complete her hat trick. Additionally, Indiana’s freshman attacker Louisa Downes scored the game-tying goal late in the third. Indiana and UC Davis were tied at 6 goals entering the final quarter.
The Aggies started the fourth quarter with back-to-back goals making the Hoosiers fight an 8-6 deficit. Indiana narrowed UC Davis’ lead to 8-7 but, was unable to secure the final point to extend the game to overtime. Indiana lost its first match of the weekend to UC Davis, 8-7.
Indiana’s second game of the weekend was against UC Berkeley. UC Berkeley is ranked third in the nation and holds a 15-4 record.
The Hoosiers led early 2-1 in the first quarter against the Golden Bears. Indiana’s goals came from Downes and Hathaway. UC Berkeley scored two goals in the first two minutes of the second quarter to take the lead 3-2.
Indiana’s senior utility Zoe Crouch scored the equalizer with two minutes left in the second quarter. UC Berkeley’s redshirt freshman Claire Rowell scored the final goal of the first half and gave the Golden Bears a 4-3 lead entering the break.
The Hoosiers were outscored 3-1 in the third quarter forcing them to enter the fourth quarter with a three-goal deficit. Despite scoring three goals in the fourth quarter, Indiana lost its second game of the weekend 9-7.
Indiana returns next week on the road as they face No. 2 University of Southern California at 3 p.m. March 25 at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
