Princeton Claims Tourney: Aquawomen Finish Fourth

Despite a goalie who was characterized by Harvard Coach Steve Pike as "particularly weak" and despite the presence of both highly touted Brown and Queens, the Princeton women's water polo team swept all five of its games this weekend to earn first place in the Harvard Invitational Water Polo tournament Blodgett Pool.

"Yes, it was a surprise," Pike said of the stunning Tiger upset. "It shouldn't have been but it was."

They knew they had a weak goalie and the entire team decided to go out and cover it up. They played outstanding defense and made their goalie just a seventh player.

While the Tigers leaped past the startled field the Crimson disappointed its partisan fans. Although the aquawomen finished 3-2, topping MIT, the University of Rhode Island and Queens, (the Harvard aquawomen lost to Princeton and Brown) the Crimson finished fourth out of six.

Since Brown and Queens also earned 3-2 slates the tie for second place was broken on the basis of goals for and against in the games among the three schools. While the other teams had scored one more goal than they had allowed Harvard had been outscored by two and was thus relegated to fourth. Brown had a better overall goal differential than Queens and picked up second place.

In its final game against Brown yesterday afternoon in Blodgett, the Crimson appeared outmatched by its archrival, falling, 13-9.

Our defense was atrocious," Pike said. "We had a difficult time reading situations both offensively and defensively."

Also working against Harvard was Suzie Jansen, the best women's water polo player on the East Coast. Jansen tallied seven times against Harvard. She was devastating in close, from the top and even on a 25-ft. lob. She was in short, everywhere.

If the Crimson is ever to catch the Bruins, who have dominated the sport over the last 10 years in New England, it must demonstrate consistency not displayed thus far.

The aquawomen are close to Brown, but keep making crucial concentration lapses. Yesterday, Harvard fell behind by four early and as Pike pointed out, "You cannot spot Brown a 4-0 lead and expect to win."

THE NOTEBOOK: The Crimson squares off against Mount Holyoke on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in Blodgett... The aquawomen's record now stands at 5-3-1.