Tigers Win Hope Opener 14-5

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 18, 2009) – The Occidental College women’s water polo team is more than half way through its 2009 campaign, but today the Tigers dove into Taylor Pool for their first home game of the season. Occidental topped Macalester (MN) College 14-5.

In a lop-sided affair the Tigers jumped out to a commanding 7-3 lead at the midway mark and cruised to the victory. Karie Nickle scored a third of the Tigers’ goals, netting five in seven attempts. Freshman Corrine Casey and sophomore Perla Almaraz scored twice apiece and in total eight different players found the back of the net. Nickle and Almaraz each supplied three assists as well.

Helen Zukin, Rebecca Hofer and Nickle each finished the game with four steals while Kelly Curtain and Tessa Bailey-Findley stole the ball three times apiece. Laura Simanonok and Andrea Savage split time in front of the cage, blocking six and two shots, respectively.

Occidental drew four ejections and earned a pair of five-meter shots, Julie Monday successfully converting her attempt in the second period of play.

The Tigers even their record at 8-8. They will be back in the pool tomorrow afternoon when they host Division I George Washington at 5:00 p.m. in Taylor Pool as their final non-conference tune-up before opening Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action next week.