ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women’s water polo team came into the 2010 season with high hopes. Key returners, a strong freshman class, and versatility were the hallmarks going into the campaign. However, the Lady Knights struggled to gain form after a slow start and posted a 9-21 record in 2010.
Coach Don Sherman hoped to employ a quick strike attack once he had his full complement of players following the swimming season. Playing without several top performers, the Knights could not pick up a win in tournaments at Bucknell and Princeton. GU recorded its first win on February 28, winning at Chapman 8-6. Gannon followed that with victory over Cal Tech March 1.
On March 17, Sherman’s team shut out Penn State Behrend 15-0 at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion (CAP). It marked the fourth shutout in program history. The Knights then put together a four-match win streak from March 20-24, including a 12-7 defeat of Division I Villanova.
Gannon beat Washington & Jefferson 10-5 on April 17 before heading to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Western Division Championships April 24. The Lady Knights lost twice and placed fourth at the event.
Annie Greenhill (Brea, Calif./Brea Olinda) ended her prolific career with a 49-goal season. The senior added 25 assists, 40 steals, and 91 earned kickouts-all team highs.
Colleen Harriger (Erie, Pa./McDowell) scored 46 goals and handed out 25 assists, leading the Knights with 24 field saves.
Molly Andrews (Tustin, Calif./Tustin) added 34 goals and 19 assists on the season.
Several freshman contributed in 2010.
Janelle Bartman (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) took over as the top goalkeeper, making 164 saves and posting an 8.25 goals against average.
Kelly Steininger (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills) had 11 goals and 11 assists while playing solid defense in her first year on the team.
Jackie Rzymek (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and
Sarah Anderson (Erie, Pa./McDowell) also saw plenty of playing time as freshmen.
Sherman will lose Greenhill,
Kendra Plackemeier (Bonsall, Calif./Fallbrook),
Mallery Casale (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy), and
Rachel Rzymek (Erie, Pa./McDowell) to graduation. Greenhill leaves as the second-leading scorer in program history, having recorded 209 goals in four seasons.
The Knights will need Harriger or Andrews to step into the lead goal-scoring role and have more consistency across the board to bounce back with a more successful season in 2011. With many younger players gaining valuable experience, Gannon should be set for a better season next year.