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Princeton's Kristen Ward Named March 1 Women's Varsity Southern Division Defensive Player of the Week
BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Kristen Ward (So., Sacramento, Calif./St. Francis) of No. 17-nationally ranked Princeton University tallied 34 saves and four assists in three games to lead the Tigers to a runner-up finish at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship and earn the March 1 Women's Varsity Southern Division Defensive Player of the Week award.
Facing some of the East Coast's best teams, Ward turned away 14 shots in a 13-9 victory over Iona College before stopping eight shots in a 10-5 win against the University of Maryland in the semifinals to advance the Tigers to the title game.
In the title tilt, she made 12 saves, but a last second goal handed the No. 20-nationally ranked Brown University Bears a 10-9 victory and the ECAC Championship.
In addition to her saves, Ward chipped in four assists on the Tigers' 32 goals over the weekend.
The award marks the second-consecutive week Ward has been honored by the Collegiate Water Polo Association office with notice as the Defensive Player of the Week. She garnered a share of the February 22 award along with teammate, classmate and fellow goalie Grace du Pont (So., Tarrytown, N.Y./Phillips Exeter Academy) who combined for 41 saves at the Princeton Invitational.
Overall, she now has 55 saves in her last five games between the pipes as she stopped 21 shots last weekend against Colorado State University (12-8 W, 11 saves) and Brown (13-11 W, 10 saves).
