June 23, 2004
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Briefly
Loyola Marymount University (25-6) made its mark on history while setting the table for even better things to come in the future. The Lions finished with its best season in program history with a school record 25 wins and the program's first trip to the national championship game. Despite losing six seniors that was one of the best senior classes in LMU history, the Lions have the talent in place to make even more noise in the future.
A First For Everything
The championship game appearance was the first time any LMU team in more than 90 years of intercollegiate sports will play in a title game sponsored by the NCAA. The Lions have claimed a pair of women's crew national championships, both coming in the Varsity Four races in 1981 and 1986. In addition, the win over No. 2 ranked Stanford is just the third time in any sport an LMU team has defeated a team ranked second nationally. Water polo joins baseball as the only teams to knock of a No. 2, as the baseball team did it twice (May 21, 1998/6-2 at Stanford; Feb. 20, 2001/9-1 vs. USC).
A Buzzer Beater
LMU earned a 5-4 win over second-ranked Stanford in the second semifinal of the 2004 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championships on Saturday evening at Stanford University. Sophomore Stacia Peterson, the Lions' leading goal scorer on the season, scored with no time remaining on the clock in regulation to lift the fifth-ranked Lions to their first semifinal win in school history. The goal came on a 6-on-5 advantage as the Lions erased deficits of 2-0 and 4-3 for the victory. Peterson had two goals, along with senior Devon Wright, senior Teresa Guidi and freshman Sarah Hamilton. The win is the first over Stanford in program history. The Lions' record improved to 25-5 at the time, setting the all-time mark for wins in a season for the program.
Making Waves
The Lions became the first lower seed in the four years of the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship to advance to the title game. The Lions have been the number three seed every year the tournament has been in existence, beginning in May of 2001. In addition, Stanford and LMU are the only two teams to play in all four championships. This year's title match between USC and LMU was the first year UCLA and Stanford have not met in the finals. LMU had taken third every year of the tournament prior to the second place finish in 2004. They now have a record of 4-4 in the NCAAs.
The Title Tilt
It was the first time LMU was involved in the NCAA Women's Water Polo National Championship game, and they made sure it was no fluke, pushing top-ranked USC to the limit in what finished to be the highest scoring title game in the four-year history of the Championship. The Lions could not hang on, however, as they fall 10-8 in the title game at Stanford University. Not expected to be in the championship title in the first place, the Lions made sure that they made a statement from start to finish. Freshman Cara Colton had a tournament to remember and tied an LMU record and a NCAA tournament record with four goals in an NCAA tournament game, setting the table for future success for the Lions program. Sophomore Stacia Peterson, who will also be a part of that future, added three goals for the Lions. She finishes with 62 goals on the year, second most in LMU history. The Trojans took a 9-6 lead with 5:33 remaining in the contest. The Trojans could not shake the Lions, as Colton would score back-to-back goals to get the Lions to within one, 9-8. USC would add an insurance goal by Anna Pardo less than a minute later to seal the game. Sophomore Katie Murray, who had a career-high 12 saves in the semifinal win over Stanford, was named second-team All-Tournament. Peterson, Devon Wright and senior Teresa Guidi earned first-team honors.
One Goal and Ranked
Facing No. 1 ranked USC in the title game was nothing new for the Lions. The Trojans were the 24th team in 2004 the Lions have played who have been ranked in the nation's top-20. LMU finishes 18-6 overall against the top-20 while facing teams ranked in the top-10 nine times. The one-goal win over Stanford was the third win as LMU's six set-backs all came against teams ranked in the top-8. Speaking of one-goals, the Lions were in just three games decided by a goal, going 1-2 in those games.
In the Rankings
The Lions started the 2004 season ranked fifth nationally, its highest ranking in program history. After a pair of set-backs in the UC San Diego Invitational on Feb. 7-8, the Lions fell to ninth. However, they won 20 of their last 22 games to close the regular season where they started in the rankings at No. 5. The win over Stanford in the semifinals and strong showing in the championship game pushed the Lions to the highest final ranking for any team in LMU history at number two. The Lions finished with 93 points in the final poll by the American Water Polo Coaches Association.
Make That 4
For the fourth straight year LMU won the Western Water Polo Association Championship thanks to a 7-3 win over UC San Diego in the title game at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center on April 25. It was the third consecutive year the WWPA rivals met in the championship game as the sixth-ranked Lions will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championships for the fourth consecutive year. The Lions came out strong to take a 3-0 lead after the first period. Senior Devon Wright started the scoring, followed by sophomore Stacia Peterson and freshman Sarah Hamilton to put the Lions up 3-0. The Lions then went up 5-0 before UC San Diego would score. LMU goalie Katie Murray was solid in net with eight saves. The Lions set-up the championship win with an impressive offensive showing in the first two games, defeating Chapman in the first round 18-2 and then knocking off Cal State Bakersfield 16-8 in the semifinals.
All-Americans
It was a year to remember for the women's water polo team as they reached the school's first-ever national championship game. Those accomplishments earned three Lions' All-American honors by the American Water Polo Coaches Association, announced on Tuesday, May 25. Senior Teresa Guidi was given first-team honors, the first player named first-team in program history. She was joined by senior Devon Wright on the second-team and sophomore Stacia Peterson on the third-team. The Lions have had three members on the All-America teams in each of the last three years, brining the total of All-Americans to 10 since 2001.
A Senior Leader
Teresa Guidi has been the leader of the Lions' success over the years as this marks here third straight All-America honor. She earned honorable mention honors in 2002 and second-team honors in 2003. She is a four-team All-WWPA selection, earning first-team honors the last three years. Also in that time span she has been named to three NCAA All-Tournament teams, earning first-team honors this year. She scored 41 goals in her senior season, the most in her career for one season. She wraps up her career second all-time in program history with 140 goals, third in shot attempts 359 and fifth in assists with 55.
The Player of the Year
Earning the 2004 WWPA Player of the Year honor was Devon Wright. The second-year player at LMU finished second on the team in goals with 55 to give her 101 her career, fourth all-time at LMU. After transferring to LMU in 2003, Wright became just the eighth player in school history to score 50 or more goals in a single season. She was a two-time first-team All-WWPA and NCAA All-Tournament team selection.
A Young American
Earning her first All-America honor in just two seasons of college water polo is Stacia Peterson. The Illinois-native finished the season with 62 goals, the second most in any one season in program history. She scored five goals in the NCAA tournament, including the game-winner as the buzzer sounded against Stanford. Peterson finished the season with an impressive 57.0 shooting percentage and became just the seventh player in LMU history to score more than 50 goals in a season and just the second to score more than 60. She had three five-goal games, the most in a single season for the program.
Successful Seniors
This year's senior class of Laura Sunderman, Neisha Hoagland, Devon Wright, Rebecca Peterson, Jamie Kroeze and Teresa Guidi have known nothing but success while at LMU. This senior class has won a conference championship every year at LMU, with Peterson, Kroeze and Guidi playing in their fourth year. The trio of four-year stars for the Lions have helped the Lions' program win more than 20 games every season they have been on the team. They have a combined record of 93-30 (.756), four WWPA Championships and four appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Of any sport at LMU, they are one of the most successful senior classes in LMU history, rivaled by the 2000 class in baseball, the 1996 volleyball class and the 1990 men's basketball class.
Offense from Defense
Long known as a defensive coach, including last season's program record of just 4.22 goals allowed per game, John Loughran and his Lions have turned up the offense in 2004. The Lions shattered the all-time record for goals per game. They scored 283 goals in the 31 games this season for an average of 9.13 per game. Last season the Lions scored 274 goals in 32 games for an 8.56 average to set the previous record. Of all the quarters, the second has been the best for the Lions, outscoring opponents 81-30. Here are the averages for the Lions since 2000:
Year Goals Avg. Games Gls Agst Avg.
2004 283 9.13 31 146 4.71
2003 274 8.56 32 135 4.22
2002 213 7.34 29 140 4.83
2001 241 8.03 30 146 4.87
2000 272 8.00 34 254 7.47
Honor Role
Senior Devon Wright was named the WWPA Player of the Year thanks to impressive season highlighted by a dominating performance in the WWPA tournament. Wright, who becomes the fourth consecutive Lion named WWPA Player of the Year, scored seven goals in three games, including two in the championship win over the Tritons at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center. Joining Wright as a first-team All-WWPA selection are seniors Teresa Guidi and Jamie Kroeze. Sophomore Stacia Peterson has been chosen as a second-team selection and Head Coach John Loughran was named WWPA Coach of the Year for the fourth time.
With the Assist
Senior Jamie Kroeze continued to show her leadership in the pool as she climbs the all-time assist charts in LMU history. Kroeze had 34 assists this season to rank fourth all-time at LMU. With her 23 last season, which ranked sixth, she has 68 in her career to rank third.
Simply Academic
The American Water Polo Coaches Association released the 2003-2004 Women's All-Academic Team as six Lions were on the list, in addition the Lions earned Team Honors. With the success in the pool, it was no surprise that the Lions finished the season as team with a GPA of 3.11, earning American Water Polo Coaches Association Team Honors. The award goes to those teams earning a team GPA better than 2.75. In addition to the team honors, the AWPCA recognized individuals as well. The athletes represent achievement on three levels: Excellent 3.20-3.40, Superior 3.41-3.70, and Outstanding 3.71-4.0. Sophomore Stacia Peterson earned Outstanding honors with a 3.79 GPA. Earning Superior honors for the Lions are Devon Wright (3.41), Jamie Kroeze (3.44) and Lindsey O'Farriell (3.50). Sophomore Brianne Castillo-Huang (3.37) and senior Neisha Hoagland (3.31) round out the honors, earning Excellent accolades.
Reaching 100
In his tenure as the head coach of all three Lions' aquatics programs, John Loughran has posted total success. He has now earned the Western Water Polo Association women's water polo coach of the year in the last four seasons for guiding the Lions to four straight conference titles. The women's team ended the national championship in third place in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and the second place finish in 2004. His career record sits at 139-70 (.668).
- GO LIONS -
