Regular season ends on high note

The trip back to Bloomington could have been a long one for the IU water polo team. However, it turned out to be quite the joy ride.\nThe No. 17 Hoosiers won all six of their games this weekend, beating Gannon, Penn State Behrend, Mercyhurst, Grove City, Slippery Rock and Washington & Jefferson, improving their record to 17-13.\nAfter scoring a season-high 18 goals in their final game Sunday, the Hoosiers brought their “A-game” to Pennsylvania, IU coach Barry King said.\n“With the way we went about our business and having a grueling road trip there, it can take a toll on you mentally,” King said. “I thought the women responded very well.”\nKing said he was not concerned about the high scores in each game. \n“That’s never our focus; our focus is just to play well and do the things we are supposed to do. ... The end numbers aren’t really what we are concerned with,” he said. “As long as we are doing the right things to lead up to those numbers, everything falls into place.”\nFreshman Kate Dunn and junior Maggie Hannon, who led the Hoosiers in goals in three of the six games, both had stand-out performances this weekend. \n“Kate played extremely well in every contest,” King said. “The whole group was just real solid.”\nDunn said he thought the weekend’s success can be attributed to all of the hard work the team had put forward during the previous week.\n“I think that after our last loss we came together and realized what we needed to do, how we needed to focus, and I think we all got into our heads and played like we knew we could play,” she said. “We came together as a team.”\nAlthough the team has only two weeks of practice ahead before the Western Division Championships begin, King said it is important to rest.\n“After some fitness work, we must start our resting process,” he said. “We want to make sure we are fresh for what is still ahead.”\nSenior goalkeeper Jackie Pyrz said the success of the team in the championship games will reflect the mentality of the players.\n“We want to make sure the whole team stays positive because it’s going to be a long and important two weeks,” she said. “We just have to keep playing as a team, and we will continue to come out ahead.”