George Washington University Athletics
Friday, April 26
Providence, RI
2:30 PM
George Washington University
vs
Bucknell
Women's Water Polo Heads to CWPA Championship
4/24/2019 11:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Colonials open Friday vs. third-seeded Bucknell
George Washington women's water polo is set to open the Collegiate Water Polo Association Championship on Friday, facing No. 21 Bucknell in a 2:30 p.m. start at Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center in Providence, R.I.
The winner between the sixth-seeded Colonials and third-seeded Bison advances to face either No. 4 seed Harvard or No. 5 seed Brown in a Saturday semifinal. The championship game to determine the conference's automatic NCAA bid is set for Sunday at noon.
Regardless of results, the Buff and Blue will play three games over the three days at Brown. (Full schedule/results here.)
LAST TIME OUT:Â GW (6-12) had a break last weekend after wrapping the regular season with a loss to No. 6 Michigan on April 14 at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium.
The Colonials picked up a CWPA win over St. Francis (Pa.) a day earlier, holding off the Red Flash, 10-9. Alana Ponce scored all four of her goals in the second half to fuel the victory.
Ponce did it all for the Buff and Blue on the final weekend of the regular season, leading the Colonials in goals (six) and saves (11) over three games. The sophomore from Gig Harbor, Wash., split her time between the field and in net with goalkeeper Samantha Runyon sidelined.
CENTURY CLUB:Â Ponce's 100th career goal was a special one.
On March 31, Ponce beat the final buzzer at Smith Center Pool to give the Colonials a 10-9 win over St. Francis (Pa.).
After leading GW in points as a first-year en route to All-CWPA Second Team recognition, Ponce is again setting the pace for the Colonials. She's totaled 54 points (41 goals, 13 assists) through 18 games this spring.
Entering the CWPA Championship, Ponce has racked up 145 career points in 48 contests via 106 goals and 39 assists.
INSTANT OFFENSE:Â Juliette Belanger joined the Colonials for the spring semester and has made an immediate impact.
The first-year from Canada has found the net in 16 of 18 games this season, registering 35 goals in all to rank second on the squad. She also leads the way with 24 ejections drawn on the season.
Belanger has recorded multi-goal efforts in six of the past nine games, highlighted by a season-high five scores in a 13-11 win at Fresno Pacific on March 14.
DEFENSIVE STALWART:Â Jaleh Moaddeli has led GW defensively this season, tallying team highs in steals (42) and field blocks (15). The latter total is tied for fourth on the program's all-time single-season list.
A sophomore from California, Moaddeli has also done her part on the offensive end, posting 52 points (28 goals, 24 assists) to rank second among Colonials.
SCOUTING THE CWPA:Â Michigan (6-0 CWPA) earned the top seed for the tournament as it tries for its fourth straight CWPA title. The Wolverines were followed in the regular season standings by No. 15 Princeton (5-1), No. 21 Bucknell (4-2), No. 16 Harvard (3-3), Brown (2-4), GW (1-5) and St. Francis (Pa.) (0-6).
A year ago, Michigan defeated Princeton, 11-8, in the final at Bucknell.
WATCH THIS: Hear from head coach Barry King, Allison DeCicco and Megan Tomasi ahead of the CWPA Championship.
The winner between the sixth-seeded Colonials and third-seeded Bison advances to face either No. 4 seed Harvard or No. 5 seed Brown in a Saturday semifinal. The championship game to determine the conference's automatic NCAA bid is set for Sunday at noon.
Regardless of results, the Buff and Blue will play three games over the three days at Brown. (Full schedule/results here.)
LAST TIME OUT:Â GW (6-12) had a break last weekend after wrapping the regular season with a loss to No. 6 Michigan on April 14 at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium.
The Colonials picked up a CWPA win over St. Francis (Pa.) a day earlier, holding off the Red Flash, 10-9. Alana Ponce scored all four of her goals in the second half to fuel the victory.
Ponce did it all for the Buff and Blue on the final weekend of the regular season, leading the Colonials in goals (six) and saves (11) over three games. The sophomore from Gig Harbor, Wash., split her time between the field and in net with goalkeeper Samantha Runyon sidelined.
CENTURY CLUB:Â Ponce's 100th career goal was a special one.
On March 31, Ponce beat the final buzzer at Smith Center Pool to give the Colonials a 10-9 win over St. Francis (Pa.).
After leading GW in points as a first-year en route to All-CWPA Second Team recognition, Ponce is again setting the pace for the Colonials. She's totaled 54 points (41 goals, 13 assists) through 18 games this spring.
Entering the CWPA Championship, Ponce has racked up 145 career points in 48 contests via 106 goals and 39 assists.
INSTANT OFFENSE:Â Juliette Belanger joined the Colonials for the spring semester and has made an immediate impact.
The first-year from Canada has found the net in 16 of 18 games this season, registering 35 goals in all to rank second on the squad. She also leads the way with 24 ejections drawn on the season.
Belanger has recorded multi-goal efforts in six of the past nine games, highlighted by a season-high five scores in a 13-11 win at Fresno Pacific on March 14.
DEFENSIVE STALWART:Â Jaleh Moaddeli has led GW defensively this season, tallying team highs in steals (42) and field blocks (15). The latter total is tied for fourth on the program's all-time single-season list.
A sophomore from California, Moaddeli has also done her part on the offensive end, posting 52 points (28 goals, 24 assists) to rank second among Colonials.
SCOUTING THE CWPA:Â Michigan (6-0 CWPA) earned the top seed for the tournament as it tries for its fourth straight CWPA title. The Wolverines were followed in the regular season standings by No. 15 Princeton (5-1), No. 21 Bucknell (4-2), No. 16 Harvard (3-3), Brown (2-4), GW (1-5) and St. Francis (Pa.) (0-6).
A year ago, Michigan defeated Princeton, 11-8, in the final at Bucknell.
WATCH THIS: Hear from head coach Barry King, Allison DeCicco and Megan Tomasi ahead of the CWPA Championship.
"This is the weekend that we work for the entire year."
— GW Water Polo (@GW_WaterPolo) April 24, 2019
Head Coach Barry King, Allison DeCicco and Megan Tomasi preview the @CWPAWaterPolo Championship! #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/mXdO2xCgoR
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
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GK
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