April 19, 2008

Grove City earns 5th place; evens record at 10-10

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College women's water polo team recorded a pair of victories over Western Pennsylvania rivals Saturday at the Collegiate Water Polo Association Western Division Championships in the Grove City College Pool. Grove City (10-10) opened play with a 12-4 win over Penn State Behrend. The Wolverines then rolled past Washington & Jefferson in the fifth-place match, 10-3.

Eight different Wolverines scored goals against Behrend. Sophomore Amanda Thompson (Erie, Pa./McDowell) fired in three goals while junior Liza McRuer (Irvine, Calif./University) and freshman Lauren Baur (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) both scored twice.

Junior Whitney Baur (North Wales, Pa./North Penn), sophomore Liz Juncker (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron), freshman Brittany LaPalme (Hollywood, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas), sophomore Kate Stiebler (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and freshman Allison White (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) all scored once. For White, it is her first collegiate goal.

McRuer dished out three of Grove City's 10 assists. Lauren Baur and Stiebler each assisted on two goals while Juncker, LaPalme and Thompson all recorded one assist.

In goal, senior Keala Walter (Keaau, Hawaii/Newberg, Ore.) stopped 13 of 17 shots. Whitney Baur led Grove City with five steals against Behrend while McRuer picked up three takeaways.

Against W&J, Grove City bolted out to a 5-1 lead in the first period. The Wolverines led 6-3 at halftime and then blanked the Presidents in the second half. Thompson scored four times while Stiebler added a hat trick. Lauren Baur, LaPalme and McRuer each scored once. Juncker and Thompson both tallied three assists. McRuer and Stiebler distributed two assists each.

Walter recorded 10 saves in goal. McRuer led Grove City with five steals and one blocked shot. Lauren Baur, Juncker and Stiebler all had three steals.

Grove City will now await a possible invitation to the season-ending Collegiate III National Championships in New London, Conn. May 2-4.

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