Baur & Stiebler Lead Grove City Past Carthage 8-7 for CWPA Division III Title

Kate Stiebler

UTICA, N.Y. -- Lauren Baur (Jr., North Wales, Pa./North Penn) and Katie Stiebler (Sr., Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) both scored three goals as Grove City College rallied for a 7-6 deficit to knock off Carthage College 8-7 in the 2010 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Championship game at Utica College.

Trailing 7-6 entering the fourth period, the Wolverines pulled even 1:20 into the final quarter as Stiebler lobbed a shot over the head of Carthage goalie LaChee Singleton (So., Burbank, Calif./Burbank) at the 6:40 mark to complete a hat-trick.  Nearly two minutes later, Baur equaled Stiebler's accomplishment by connecting on an outside shot with 4:46 to play for the deciding marker in the 8-7 victory.

The game was nip-and-tuck throughout as the largest margin between the two teams were two goal advantages by the Lady Reds at 3-1 in the first period, along with 5-3 and 6-4 advantages in the second period.

Down 6-5 at halftime, Grove City pulled even with Carthage for the first time since a 1-1 tie with 5:15 remaining in the first period as Stielber converted on a man-up chance at 5:59 of the third period to even the damage at 6-6.  The Lady Reds regained the lead two minutes later when Patti Blatter (Sr., Prospect Heights, Ill./Lockport Township) put home a shot with 3:02 left in the period to make it 7-6 and set up Grove City's fourth period comeback for victory.

Overall, Blatter along with Mari Paraskevopoulos (So., Mount Prospect, Ill./Arlington Heights-Hersey) and Jessica Shopiro (Sr., Buffalo Grove, Ill./Lincolnshire-Stevenson) led Carthage with two goals each, while Kimmy Genian (Jr., Gurnee, Ill./Highland Park) tacked on a solo marker.

For Carthage, Amanda Brush (So., Charlton, N.Y./Schenectady Christian) and Amanda Thompson (Sr., Erie, Pa./McDowell) chipped in goals as the Wolverines captured the inaugural CWPA Division III title.

In cage, Amanda Johnston (Fr., San Luis Obispo, Calif./San Luis Obispo) notched two saves in earning the victory, while Singleton stopped nine shots for the Lady Reds.

Grove City Goals:Katie Stiebler (3); Lauren Baur (3); Amanda Brush; Amanda Thompson

Carthage Goals: Patti Blatter (2); Mari Paraskevopoulos (2); Jessica Shopiro (2); Kimmy Genian

Saves: Grove City - Amanda Johnston (2) ; Carthage - LaChee Singleton (9)

Exclusions: Grove City - 6 ; Carthage - 2

Advantage Opportunities: Grove City - 1-for-2 ; Carthage - 0-for-6

Sprints: Grove City - 3-for-4 (1st, 2nd, 3rd) ; Carthage - 1-for-4 (4th)