No. 15 Indiana water polo swept all four opponents when it hosted the Indiana Classic from Feb. 17-18 at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
Indiana started off Feb. 17 with a match against California Baptist University. Indiana dominated in many categories against Cal Baptist, including shots (38-34), assists (13-3) and steals (13-6).
The Hoosiers took an early 5-2 lead over the Lancers with the first three goals of the match coming from junior center Sophia Sollie and senior attacker Kiki Mein. Sophomore utility player Nicole Tyner and graduate student utility player Zoe Crouch each scored a goal, giving the Hoosiers a 5-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
During the second quarter, the Hoosiers scored four more goals while holding the Lancers scoreless to take a 9-2 lead at halftime. Tyner scored the first goal of the quarter and her second of the day. Junior attacker Skylar Kidd scored two more goals for the 8-2 lead while sophomore attacker Grace Klingler finished scoring for the quarter.
Indiana was outscored 2-1 in the third quarter with the only goal coming from junior defender Claire Witting. The Hoosiers’ lead was secure heading into the fourth 10-4 and they continued to add to it with six more goals. Crouch had two goals and Sollie had one to complete their hat tricks. Freshman attacker Olivia Harris, senior defender Kallie White and sophomore utility player Megan Holcomb each scored one goal to end the match with a 16-7 win.
Indiana celebrated Senior Day later in the evening with a match against Iona University. Iona struck first with a goal from sophomore center Sadie Sallas. However, the Hoosiers scored four straight goals with two from sophomore attacker Louisa Downes and a goal each from Sollie and Kidd.
The Hoosiers scored six more goals during the second quarter compared to the Gaels’ one. White had a hat trick, Crouch had one goal and junior attacker Grace Hathaway had two goals to secure a 10-2 lead.
Crouch, Downes, Klingler and junior attacker Portia Sasser each scored to help the Hoosiers take a 14-5 lead at the end of the third. Indiana finished the fourth quarter by scoring five straight goals while holding Iona scoreless for the 19-5 victory.
Indiana started off Feb. 18 with a match against Saint Francis University. Downes won the opening sprint to get Indiana on the board 1-0. Indiana then scored six more goals to take a commanding 7-1 lead over Saint Francis.
The Hoosiers and the Red Flash equalized at 3 in the second quarter, but the Hoosiers kept the momentum for a 10-4 halftime lead. The third quarter rolled around, and the Hoosiers outscored the Red Flash 4-0 with goals from Klingler, Harris and sophomore attacker Savannah Batchelor.
Indiana ended the match with a 5-1 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter to defeat Saint Francis 19-5.
Indiana finished off the event with a match against Salem University. Downes and Sasser got the scoring started with two straight goals in the first quarter. After Salem responded with a goal from senior utility player Taeghan Hack, Indiana responded with three straight goals to take a 5-1 lead at the end of the first.
The Hoosiers outscored the Tigers in the second quarter 6-2 to take an 11-3 lead at the half. Each goal was contributed by Kidd, Sasser, Hathaway, Downes, Sollie and junior attacker Sarah Lolli.
Indiana and Salem each had low-scoring third and fourth quarters, but Indiana survived by outscoring Salem 7-3 throughout the back end to win the match 18-6. The Hoosiers are now 12-0 and have the longest undefeated streak in program history.
No. 13 Indiana heads to Irvine, California, Friday through Sunday for the Kalbus Invite. Its first matchup is against No. 5 University of Southern California at 7:15 p.m. Friday.
