In only the U women’s water polo club team’s second year of existence, it came a mere two games from the national championship.
Earlier this month, the team finished sixth at the National Collegiate Club Water Polo Tournament, held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Despite entering the tournament with the No. 9 seed after winning their Southwest Division title, the Utes went 2-2 in the tank to finish the season with a record of 12-3.
“It was a good experience for the girls,” coach Larry Jackson said. “It showed them they could compete with the best in the nation.”
Team captain and tournament second teamer Jamie Wayman agreed.
“The level of competition was great. For club teams, there were really good players,” Wayman said.
Utah opened up Nationals against No. 4 seed Oregon. The Ducks were blown out of the water by the U, with the final score 12-5.
Seven different Utes found a way to sneak the ball past the keeper. Amanda Douglas and Wayman led the offense with 3 scores apiece, while Laura Chamberlain added 2 goals. On the defensive, U keeper Heidi Hansen snuffed 9 shot attempts.
The Utes advanced to face No. 5 seed Notre Dame in the quarterfinal. Utah trailed 8-6 in the closing two minutes, but scores by Douglas and Amanda Meredith tied the score.
But with two top U scorers on the bench due to ejection fouls, the Fighting Irish notched a four-meter penalty goal for the victory.
“I think we were jet-lagged a little bit from finals,” Jackson said. Meredith led the U offense with 3 goals, and Wayman added 2.
The loss dropped the women into a match-up with No. 12 seed Emory University. The game was a tight, low-scoring affair until the deciding goal, which came off the hand of the U’s Kimberly Lewis with 0:08 ticks left in the game.
Lewis’ second goal of the game propelled the Utes to the 5-4 win and earned them a spot in the fifth place game against Dartmouth.
However, in a game Jackson described as one where “we played like we knew we weren’t in the winner’s bracket,” the Utes fell 7-5.
Lewis scored 2 goals, while Wayman, Chamberlain and Katherine Jensen scored 1 apiece.
For her eight tournament goals, Wayman was honored with a spot on the all-tournament second team.
“I was surprised, but pleased, of course,” she said. “You’re only as good as your team can make you look. It’s a reflection of the team.”