Bucknell University Athletics
Women's Water Polo Team Looks for Continued Success
2/9/2001 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 9, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's water polo team has many things to look forward to in the upcoming season. For starters, the Bison only lost two players from the 2000 squad that went 16-14 overall. Kristin D'Agostino and Emily McKnight, players who were with the program since its inception as a varsity sport in 1999, were both lost to graduation.
In addition, the Orange and Blue will be under the direction of newly appointed head coach John Zeigler. Zeigler, entering his second season with the Bison, served as the interim coach in 2000. A 1991 graduate of Bucknell, he previously coached the BU men's squad to a 14-12 record during the 1992 season. Zeigler has proven an experienced leader, also taking on the responsibilities of coaching the men's water polo program at Bucknell.
The Orange and Blue have a solid nucleus of experienced players returning for the 2001 season. Bucknell returns its top five scorers from a year ago, which means there should be no shortage of experience and scoring ability on the team. "I expect that how consistent we play on defense as a team will dictate how far we go this season, especially counterattack defense and 2-meter defense," said Zeigler.
Bucknell will be led by three returning all-conference players. Senior co-captain Paige Cull (Bay City, Mich./John Glenn), junior Adrienne Schober (Houston, Texas/Clearlake) and sophomore Katy Stahler (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel) were all named to the 2000 College Water Polo Association Allegheny Division All-Conference team.
Cull, joining classmate Julie McLaughlin (Woodside, Calif./Menlo) as a 2001 captain, was named to the second-team for the first time in her career. Cull finished the season fourth on the team in scoring with 62 points on 49 goals and 13 assists. Her 69 steals were a team-high. For her career, Cull has tallied 77 goals making her Bucknell's all-time leader in that category.
Schober turned in an impressive sophomore campaign after an equally successful rookie season. The team-leader in points, Schober recorded 38 goals and 39 assists, to go with 53 steals during the 2000 season. Entering the 2001 campaign, Schober is BU's career leader in points (118) and assists (55) after two seasons of competition.
Stahler was the team's fifth-leading scorer with 44 goals and 17 assists for 61 points. Her goal, assist and point total as a frosh set a new standard for rookie scoring in program history.
McLaughlin and junior Brooke Rea (Canandaigua, N.Y./Los Altos) are Bucknell's other top-returning scorers. McLaughlin finished her junior season third on the team in scoring with 70 points. Her 41 assists were tops on the team, and she added 29 goals to her scoring totals.
Rea, a first-year player for Bucknell after transferring, made an immediate impact on the Bison program, finishing the year second in scoring with 76 points. She tallied a team-high 53 goals and handed out 23 assists.
With such tremendous offensive ammunition returning, Coach Zeigler has plenty to be optimistic about. "Stahler and Rea are our dynamic duo in the hole, while Schober and Cull lead the counterattack and outside shooting," said Zeigler. "McLaughlin serves as our primary playmaker and leads the team in assists and steals."
Despite starting only four games as a freshman, Lindsay Chesterfield (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) returns to take over the netminding duties for the Orange and Blue. In 10 games, Chesterfield collected 83 saves while allowing only 39 goals for a save percentage of .680. Her skills and experience will be counted on to spearhead the Bison defense.
Other members returning to the fold for the 2001 squad include seniors Kimberly Kaczor (Union, N.J./Union) and Allison Hernandez (Newton, Pa./Pennsbury), juniors Meredith Stevens (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) and Dana Clarke (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton), and sophomores Jamie Fulop (Neshanic Station, N.J./Somerville), Christina Gillis (Havertown, Pa./Episcopal Academy) and Elizabeth Wilmarth (Brookline, Mass./Brookline).
Hernandez, Clarke and Stevens could all vie for starting roles early in the season after gaining much experience as backup players last season.
The Bison also welcome five newcomers to the squad. Sophomore Becky Dolan (Pine Forge, Pa./Boyertown), and freshmen Daniela Faas (Ludwigshafen, Germany/Worcester Academy), Kelly Hofstetter (Scotts Valley, Calif./Harbor), Caity Selleck (Hamilton, N.Y./Hamilton Central) and Kate Webber (Southampton, Mass./Williston Northampton School) all join the team this season. Several new faces could make an immediate impact on the Bucknell team. In particular, Hofstetter will challenge for an immediate starting position as a driver.
As a third-year varsity program that has enjoyed improved success over its first two seasons, the Bucknell women's water polo team has its sights set on an exciting and promising season.
Entering a new conference for the 2001 season, the Bison will face tough competition from their opponents in the College Water Polo Association, Mid-Atlantic Conference of the Southern Division. Bucknell will challenge Princeton, Villanova, George Washington and Salem International at its league games. In addition, there will be a set of Southern Division Tournament (Allegheny and Mid-Atlantic Conferences) at the conclusion of the season where Bucknell will face tough opponents in Michigan, Indiana and Slippery Rock.
The Bison open the season this weekend with a game at George Washington on Saturday, February 10, at 7:00 p.m.
