March 28, 2009

Grove City rallies past W&J

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College women's water polo team pulled out a come-from-behind 11-10 victory over visiting Washington & Jefferson Saturday night in Collegiate Water Polo Association Western Division action on Senior Night at the Grove City College Pool.

Grove City trailed 10-9 with less than one minute remaining but the Wolverines (5-7, 2-4) tied the match on a goal from junior Amanda Thompson (Erie, Pa./McDowell).

Then, after a Grove City timeout, junior Kate Stiebler (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) scored the game-winner off a set play with 22 seconds left. Stiebler took a feed from freshman goalkeeper Amy Fleming (Annandale, Va./Annandale) and tossed a lob shot into the goal to break the tie.

Stiebler finished the match with five goals while Thompson scored three goals. Senior Liza McRuer (Irvine, Calif./University) scored twice while freshman Lauren Baur (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) added a goal. Baur, Fleming, sophomore Brittany LaPalme (Hollywood, Fla./Thomas Aquinas) and Thompson all had assists.

Defensively, Baur paced Grove City with four steals while McRuer and Stiebler each had three steals. Fleming made three saves in goal. Grove City led 6-4 at halftime and extended the lead to 9-6 early in the fourth period.

Grove City honored seniors McRuer, Whitney Baur (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) and Monica Gigliotti (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) prior to the match. It is the fifth straight season that Grove City has won its home finale.

Earlier Saturday, Grove City dropped an 11-1 decision to Mercyhurst in Western Division action. Stiebler scored the lone Wolverine goal. Fleming made five saves in goal while Stiebler stopped four shots.

Grove City will visit Chatham Tuesday night in Western Division action at 7:30 p.m.

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