May 25, 2005
Los Angeles, CA (May 25) - Junior Stacia Peterson and sophomore Rachel Riddell of the Loyola Marymount University women's water polo team were named 2005 All-Americans by the American Water Polo Coaches Association. Peterson set the all-time school record with 75 goals this season while Riddell was named Western Water Polo Association Player of the Year in leading the Lions to their fifth straight WWPA title.
For the fourth straight year the Lions had multiple selection on the All-America teams as Peterson claims second-team honors and Riddell was an honorable mention selection. The two helped lead the Lions to a program-best 30-7 record and a fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship. It is the second time for both players to be named All-America.
Peterson, who was a third-team selection in 2004, finished 13th in the nation with 75 goals, giving her 154 in her three-year career, ranking her second all-time in LMU history in career goals.
She had a record-breaking tournament in 2005, as her five goals in the win over Wagner set the NCAA Tournament single game record. Peterson added four goals in the tough loss to Hawaii and one more in the win over Michigan to give her 10 on the tournament. Her 10 sets the record for goals in a single tournament, breaking the previous record of five. The NCAA tournament expanded from four teams to eight, giving each team three games instead of two the previous four years.
Entering into this year's championships, Peterson had scored five goals in NCAA tournament. She now has a total of 15 in her career, setting a career record in the NCAA tournament.
As for Riddell, she returned to the Lions squad after taking a year off in 2004 as she prepared to play in the Olympic games as a member of the Canadian National Team. In her freshman season of 2003 she was a third-team All-American. In 2005, she returned to lead the nation with 333 while allowing just 4.91 goals per game.
In earning Player of the Year honors in the WWPA, Riddell allowed just 10 goals in three games and made 14 saves in each of the semifinal and final wins. Her 4.14 career goals against average is the best in LMU history.
Over the past four seasons the Lions have placed 11 players on AWPCA All-America teams.
- GO LIONS -
Division I
Player of the Year
Natalie Golda University of California, Los Angeles
Coach of the Year
Adam Krikorian University of California, Los Angeles
First Team
Natalie Golda University of California, Los Angeles
Brittany Hayes University of Southern California
Christina Hewko Stanford University
Thalia Munro University of California, Los Angeles
Kelly Rulon University of California, Los Angeles
Moriah Van Norman University of Southern California
Emily Feher University of California, Los Angeles Goalie
Second Team
Cassie Azevedo Long Beach State University
Katie Hansen Stanford University
Monika Kruszona University of Hawaii
Hannah Luber Stanford University
Stacia Peterson Loyola Marymount University
Iefke Van Belkum University of Hawaii
Meridith McColl Stanford University Goalie
Third Team
Beth Novick University of Hawaii
Rachel Serna San Diego State University
Kandace Waldthaler Indiana University
Shana Welch University of Michigan
Lauren Wenger University of Southern California
Elsie Windes University of California, Berkeley
Betsey Armstrong University of Michigan Goalie
Honorable Mention
Kate Chambers Hartwick College
Chari Christopher California State University, Northridge
Meike De Nooy University of Hawaii Goalie
Gabrielle Domanic University of California, Los Angeles
Erika Figge University of Southern California
Allison Gold University of California, Berkeley
Robyn Kaake University of California, Irvine
Bronwen Knox Hartwick College
Sheetal Narsai University of Michigan
Rachel Riddell Loyola Marymount University Goalie
Brittany Rowe University of California, Los Angeles
Jessica Schroeder University of the Pacific
Laura Scott San Jose State University
Aimee Stachowski University of California, Santa Barbara
Drue Wawrzynski Long Beach State University
