Four Tiger Polo Players Earn All-SCIAC

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 30, 2008) – One is a seasoned veteran, closing out her collegiate water polo career, the other is a talented rookie. Both earned recognition from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference following the 2008 season. Senior Danielle Montenegro was named to the First Team All-SCIAC while freshman teammate Karie Nickle earning Second Team honors. A pair of juniors, Laura Simanonok and Kelly Curtain, were named as Honorable Mention, rounding out awards.

During the 2008 season Montenegro led the Tiger pack with 63 goals, 44 assists and 14 field blocks. She was third on the team with 35 steals as well.

Nickle set a single season Oxy record with 66 steals while adding 43 assists and five field blocks (both second) while scoring 40 goals, which was third best on the team.

Another player who etched her name into the record books was Curtain who drew 90 exclusions breaking her sister Sheena’s single season record of 88. She was second on the Tigers with 42 goals, adding 28 assists and 25 steals.
Rounding out the SCIAC honorees was Simanonok the Tigers’ goalie. She made 270 saves while collecting 29 steals and 11 assists.

Three of the four players appeared in all 30 games for Oxy, with Simanonok playing in 29, missing only one game due to the involvement in a car accident.

Montenegro leaves her name in the Occidental record books as the new career leader in goals scored (256), shots attempted (675), assists (225) and games played (125). 

Occidental finished the 2008 season 16-14 overall, placing fourth in the SCIAC with a 4-5 mark.