Women’s Water Polo: Goalie Shines Against Nation’s Best

Princeton goalie Ashleigh Johnson ’16 shattered the tournament record for saves at the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championships in Stanford, Calif., May 8-10, stopping 50 shots in three games — 10 more than the previous best — while allowing 20 goals. The Tigers lost to Stanford and UC-Irvine and defeated Hawaii. Johnson’s 22 saves against UC-Irvine also broke the tournament record for saves in one game.

The Tigers earned a postseason berth by sweeping the CWPA Championships at DeNunzio Pool April 24-26. In the championship game, a 7-6 victory over Indiana, Ashley Hatcher ’15 scored four goals and Johnson saved 17 shots.

The NCAA bid was the third in Princeton’s history and the first in Johnson’s remarkable career. “It was so surreal,” she said after the Indiana game. “My heart started racing after the buzzer went off.”