Author: rkilmer2

Early Club History, Schedules, and Results

The Notre Dame Women’s Water Polo team officially began in the Spring of 1995.  Up until that point there were always a couple of women who played on the men’s club team.  In the Spring of 1995 a group of women led by Mary Sundy, Brigid Fitzpatrick and Katie McCoyd informed the men’s team captains that they wanted to compete against other women’s teams.  Then men’s captains Donald Balhoff, Eric Shultz and Brian Coughlin informed them that if they got at least nine women to practice for the next few weeks they would assist the women in finding a tournament.  The women were motivated and got at least 12 women to attend practice for the next month.  The men were true to their word and helped to arrange a four team tournament at Bowling Green State University which the Notre Dame women attended and won.  The next year that group of four formed the first ever women’s club conference (the Midwest Division) in the Collegiate Water Polo Association then known as Eastern Water Polo.  

Pages 2-5 of the CWPA Media Guide has a good history of the organization: http://static.psbin.com/5/8/4drq80eub09gvt/2015WomenMediaGuide.pdf

You will see that the Men’s team blazed a trail for Men’s Club teams and the Women’s Club did the same for Women’s clubs in the CWPA.

We don’t have a great deal of history for the 96, 97 and 98 seasons.  Prior to 1998 the CWPA had one division for varsity and club teams in the Midwest and both played together.  We know that the team did not place in the top two in the CWPA Midwest Division in 96 and finished 2nd in 97.  The Midwest Division of Eastern Water Polo competed to represent the conference at the Midwest Regional.  Midwest Regionals was made up mostly of Big Ten teams (precursor to the Varsity programs at UofM and IU).  In 1996 the Midwest Division was made up of Notre Dame, Miami,OH, Findlay, and Bowling Green.  Miami, OH won the Division and Bowling Green was the runner up.  Team Captains were Mary Sundy, Michele Lichtenberger and Bridgid Fitzpatrick. In 1996 listed as Varsity, Mary Sundy and Erin Fitzgerald made 1st Team all Midwest Conference and Katie McCoyd made 2nd Team.  In 1997 the Midwest Division was made up of Notre Dame, Miami, OH, Findlay, Bowling Green and Ohio University. Notre Dame was the Midwest runner-up.  Mary Sundy and Katie McCoyd were team captains. Listed as Varsity, Mary Sundy and Erin Fitzgerald made 1st Team All Midwest Conference and Charlene Budd (GK) made 2nd Team.  

The Division did not conduct a season or championships in 1998 as the division was splitting into NCAA Varsity and Club.  

In 1998-’99 the Midwest Division returned as an all club conference and the club section for Women in the CWPA was established. We won our first CWPA Midwest Championship in 1999.  We beat Miami, OH to win it in Oxford, and there were no Nationals, they would begin in 2001.  Team captains were Erin Fitzgerald and Jen Beranek.  Brian Coughlin returned to the University as a residence hall rector that year.  The team asked Coughlin to serve as their volunteer coach.  He agreed.  1999 was Coughlin’s first year as coach and he has held the role as a volunteer ever since.  We do not have any information (nor does the CWPA) about records for 1999, but we do have the Championship plaque!  The CWPA historical records begin in 2000 as you will see below.


Currently the CWPA Women’s season begins in late January of the spring semester and concludes with a National Championship Tournament the first weekend of May.  

1999 – 2000 Season

1999-2000: We lost to Miami in overtime at Rolf’s for the Midwest championship.  That year we received the Midwest bid to the first ever CWPA Collegiate Club Nationals in Tuscon, AZ where we went 2-2 and placed 7th.  We beat Dartmouth and Northern AZ and lost to Chico and Arizona.  Miami, OH declined the bid that first year due to conflicts with their graduation ceremony.  Lauren Kuzinar and Liz Parolin were first team All-Midwest.  Val Simone, Jen Beranek and Lisa Thomas were second team.  Team Captains were Jen Beranek, Laurie Healy and Lisa Thomas.  There were no club All Americans

In 1999-’00 we had a record of something along the lines of 20-9 (though this is an estimate). 

What we know for sure:

February 5-6 CWPA Divisional at Western Michigan, Kalamazoo, MI

  • ND  6 Miami, OH 12 L
  • ND  15 Bowling Green 8 W
  • ND  15 Ohio University 6 W
  • ND  14 Western Michigan 1 W

April 8-9  CWPA Midwest Championships at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 13 Western Michigan 3 W
  • ND 8 Bowling Green 5 W
  • ND 12 Miami, OH “B” 3 W
  • ND 12 Miami, OH 14 L OT

May 5-7  CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

  • ND 12 Dartmouth 3 W
  • ND 4 Univ. of Arizona 9 L
  • ND 2 Chico State 7 L
  • ND 5 Northern Ariz. 3 W


2000 – 2001 Season

2000-’01: Midwest Champions and 6th at Club Nationals.  Our highest ranking during the season was the poll that came out right before nationals that had us ranked 3rd in the country.  This year marked our first Spring Break trip.  Lauren Kuzinar, Liz Parolin, Brigette Alge and Lisa Thomas were all named first team all conference .  Margo Klosterman and Allie Geinko were 2nd team.  Lauren was named the conference MVP and was also 2nd team at Nationals.  Coughlin was Midwest Coach of the Year.  Team Captains were Lisa Thomas, Lauren Kuzinar, and Liz Parolin.

2000-‘01 things really got rolling.  We played 45 games and finished the season with a 31-13 record.

Fall season:

Saturday November 18th at Rolf’s Aquatic Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND  9 Bowling Green 4 (W 1-0)
  • ND 10 Purdue 4 (W 2-0)
  • ND 17 Northwestern 4 (W 3-0)

Regular Season:

January 26-28 at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

  • ND 4 Michigan St. 11 (L 3-1)
  • ND 6 Purdue 3 (W 4-1)
  • ND 8 Ohio St. 7 (W 5-1)
  • ND 6 Miami 8 (L 5-2)
  • ND 7 Northwestern 1 (W 6-2)

February 2-4 CWPA Divisional at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

  • ND 15 Bowling Green 7 (W 7-2)
  • ND 11 West. Mich. 6 (W 8-2)
  • ND 15 Miami “B” 2 (W9-2)
  • ND 11 Miami 12 (L 9-3)

February 17,18  JPW Tourney at Rolf’s Aquatic Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 9 Purdue 8OT (W 10-3)
  • ND 6 Northwestern 3 (W 11-3)
  • ND 8 Illinois 5 (W 12-3)
  • ND 12 GVSU 1 (W 13-3)

February 24-25  Boilermaker Invitational, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

  • ND 7 Purdue 11 (L 13-4)
  • ND 8 Northwestern 5 (W 14-4)
  • ND 6 Illinois 8 (L 14-5)
  • ND 5 Miami 7 (L 14-6)
  • ND 8 Ohio St. 7  (W 15-6)

March 10-18th Spring Break Trip to Northern CA

  • ND 11 Cal. St. Hayward 5 (W 16-6)  Var.
  • ND 3 UC Davis “B” 10 (L 16-7) Var.
  • ND 5 UC Davis Club 1 (W 17-7)
  • ND 3 San Jose St. 15 (L 17-8) Var. (Finished 5th)
  • ND 4 Cal Poly 13 (L 17-9)
  • ND 12 St. Mary’s 4 (W 18-9)
  • ND 9 Fresno St. 5 (W 19-9)

March 31/April 1 University of Wisconsin Invite, Madison, WI

  • ND 12 GVSU 2 (W 20-9)
  • ND 17 Wisconsin 5 (W 21-9)
  • ND 6 Illinois 8 (L 21-10)
  • ND 9 Purdue 5 (W 22-10)

April 7,8  CWPA Midwest Championships at BGSU, Bowling Green, OH

  • ND 12 Miami “B” 3 (W 23-10)
  • ND 13 Bowling Green 6 (W 24-10)
  • ND 14 GVSU 1 (W 25-10)
  • ND 8 Miami 5 (W 26-10)

April 20,21 Grove City College Invite, Grove City, PA

  • ND 15 Penn St. Berhend 2 (W 27-10)  Var.
  • ND 9 Grove City 5 (W 28-10)  Var.
  • ND 8 Gannon 6 (W 29-10)  Var.
  • ND 12 Slippery Rock 13OT (L 29-11)  Var.

May 3-5 CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 7 UCLA 9 (L 29-12)
  • ND 14 Penn. St. 10 (W 30-12)
  • ND 11 Texas A&M 2 (W 31-12)
  • ND 4 Miami 5 (L 31-13)

2001 – 2002 Season

2001-’02: Won our third Midwest championship in four years.  After being seeded 5th for nationals finished fourth in the country.  Lauren Kuzinar, Liz Parolin and Brigette Alge were named to first team Midwest and Margo Klosterman and Meghann Stepan were named to the second team.  Coughlin was named Midwest Coach of the year.  Lauren Kuzinar was named Midwest Division MVP and also named first team at nationals.  Team captains were Lauren Kuzinar, Liz Parolin, and Brigette Alge.

February 1-3 Miami Classic, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 5 Purdue 16 (L 0-1)
  • ND Wisconsin (W 1-1)
  • ND Emory (W 2-1)
  • ND Illinois (L 2-2)

February 8,9 Spartan Invitational, Michigan State, East Lansing, MI

  • ND 4 Michigan St. 15 (L 2-3)
  • ND 8 Northwestern 5 (W 3-3)
  • ND 4 Slippery Rock 10 (L 3-4) Var.
  • ND 7 Purdue 11 (L 3-5)

February 16,17 CWPA Midwest North Division Tourney, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 19 West. Mich. 7 (W 4-5)
  • ND 15 GVSU 2 (W 5-5)
  • ND 21 Bowling Green 3 (W 6-5)
  • ND 5 Xavier 0 (W 7-5)

February 22-24 Boilermaker Invitational, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

  • ND 12 Ohio St. 3 (W 8-5)
  • ND 2 Michigan St. 9 (L 8-6)
  • ND 9 Emory 1 (W 9-6)
  • ND 2 Illinois 6 (L 9-7)

March 8-17 Spring Break Trip, Southern CA

  • ND 3 Occidental 9 (L 9-8) Var.
  • ND 4 LaVerne 13 (L 9-9) Var.
  • ND 8 Pomona-Pitzer 10 (L 9-10) Var.
  • ND 6 CSUSB 12 (L 9-11) Var.
  • ND 7 Chapman 3 (W 10-11) Var.
  • ND 3 Santa Clara 14 (L 10-12) Var.
  • ND 9 Whittier 6 (W 11-12) Var.
  • ND 6 LaVerne 7 (L 11-13) Var.

April 5-7 Wisconsin Invitational, Madison WI

  • ND 9 Iowa 1 (W 12-13)
  • ND 9 Purdue 8 OT (W 13-13)
  • ND 7 Miami 8 (L 13-14)
  • ND 4 Michigan St. 7 (L 13-15)

April 20-21 CWPA Midwest Championships, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 17 Washington U. 0 (W 14-15)
  • ND 14 Grand Valley St. 1 (W 15-15)
  • ND 7 Miami, OH 6 (W 16-15)

May 3-5 CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships Emory University, Atlanta, GA

  • ND 6 U of Oregon 5 (W 17-15)
  • ND 9 Utah 8 OT (W 18-15)
  • ND 4 Michigan St. 9 (L 18-16)
  • ND 9 Florida 10 (L 18-17)


2002 – 2003 Season

2002-’03: Lost Midwest championship to Miami at their home pool.  As much as anything, this restored our rivalry.  We did not receive an at-large bid to Nationals but ended the season with a final national ranking of 9th in the polls.  Kimmy Moore and Kristy Bohling were named to first team Midwest and Brigette Alge was named to the second team.  Team Captains were Sarah Todnem and Brigette Alge.

November 15-17  Hokie Invitational, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

  • ND 7 Emory 3 (W 1-0)
  • ND 11 James Madison 4 (W 2-0)
  • ND 14 Virginia Tech 3 (W 3-0)
  • ND 9 Penn 4 (W 4-0)

February 7-9  Spartan Invitational, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

  • ND 5 Michigan State 13 (L 4-1)
  • ND 12 Ohio State 2 (W 5-1)
  • ND 5 Purdue 7 (L 5-2)
  • ND 7 Northwestern 4 OT (W 6-2)
  • ND 12 Eastern Mich. 8 (W 7-2)

February 15-16  CWPA Midwest-North Divisional, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 15 Western Illinois 5 (W 8-2)
  • ND 16 Eastern Mich. 5 (W 9-2)
  • ND 14 Grand Valley St. 5 (W 10-2)
  • ND 16 Western Mich. 5 (W 11-2)

February 21-23 Ohio State Invitational, Columbus, OH

  • ND 10 Ohio Univ. “A” 6 (W 12-2)
  • ND 1 Michigan State 10 (L 12-3)
  • ND 2 Purdue 8 (L 12-4)
  • ND 8 Ohio State 1 (W 13-4)
  • ND 13 Ohio Univ. “B” 1 (W 14-4)

March 1-2  Boilermaker Invitational, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

  • ND 7 Illinois 5 (W 15-4)
  • ND 13 Purdue “B” 2 (W 16-4)
  • ND 1 Purdue 16 (L 16-5)
  • ND 5 Miami 4 (W 17-5)

March 8 CSU San Bernardino Mini Tournament,  San Bernardino, CA

  • ND 5 Whitter 8 (L 17-6) Var.
  • ND 5 Occidental 12 (L 17-7) Var.
  • ND 5 CSU San Bernardino 13 (L 17-8) Var.

March 10 Pepperdine University,  Malibu, CA

  • ND 10 Pepperdine 3 (W 18-8)

March 12 Cal State Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA

  • ND 3 Cal Poly 10 (L 18-9)

March 15-16 Coyote Classic, CSU San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

  • ND 11 Cal Tech 4 (W 19-9) Var.
  • ND 6 LaVerne 7 (L 19-10) Var.
  • ND 1 CSU San Bernardino 13 (L 19-11) Var.
  • ND 5 Whitter 4 (W 20-11) Var.
  • ND 12 Marist 8 (W 21-11) Var.

April 4-6 Miami Classic, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 4 Miami, OH 5 (L 21-12)
  • ND 6 Northwestern 2 (W 22-12)
  • ND 10 Wisconsin 5 (W 23-12)
  • ND 11 Emory 6 (W 24-12)

April 11-13 CWPA Midwest Division Championships, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 13 Miami, OH “B” 1 (W 25-12)
  • ND 5 Western Illinois 0 (W 26-12)
  • ND 11 Ohio University 2 (W 27-12)
  • ND 4 Miami, OH 6 (L 27-13)


2003 – 2004 Season

2003-’04: Lost Midwest championship to Miami at Wash U.  Miami went on to finish seventh at Nationals after losing to Dartmouth in first round.  We did not receive an at-large bid to Nationals but ended the season with a final national ranking of 9th in the polls.  Kristy Bohling and Brigette Alge were named to first team Midwest and Kimmy Moore, Katie Lancos, Bridget O’Neill and Allison Geinko were named to the second team.  Team Captains were Brigette Alge, Kimmy Moore and Kristy Bohling.

November 22-23  University of Pennsylvania Fall Invitational, Philadelphia, PA

  • ND 14 Richmond 2 (W 1-0)
  • ND 14 Penn State 3 (W 2-0)
  • ND 17 Colgate 8 (W 3-0)
  • ND 11 DC Metro (MC) 6 (W 4-0)

February 7-8  Michigan State Invitational, East Lansing, MI

  • ND 9 Purdue 6 (W 5-0)
  • ND 3 Michigan State 8 (L 5-1)
  • ND 7 Miami OH 6 (W 6-1)

February 15-16  CWPA Midwest Divisional, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

  • ND 13 Miami OH “B” 4 (W 7-1)
  • ND 16 Ohio University 3 (W 8-1)
  • ND 6 Miami,OH 7 (L 8-2)

February 21-22 JPW Invitational, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 11 Northwestern 2 (W 9-2)
  • ND 7 Illinois 2 (W 10-2)
  • ND 2 Michigan St. 7 (L 10-3)
  • ND 4 Miami OH 6 (L 10-4)

March 7  University of Southern California

  • ND 11 USC 13 (L 10-5)

March 9 Pepperdine University,  Malibu, CA

  • ND 8 Pepperdine 3 (W 11-5)

March 11 Cal State Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA

  • ND 3 Cal Poly 10 (L 11-6)

March 13-14  Coyote Classic, CSU San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

  • ND 4 CSU San Bern. 12 (L 11-7) Var.
  • ND 15 Cal Luthern 5 (W 12-7) Var.
  • ND 6 Laverne 3 (W 13-7) Var.
  • ND 5 Whitter 6 (L 13-8) Var.

March 20-21  Penn State Behrend Invitational, Erie, PA

  • ND 17 Eastern Mich. 5 (W 14-8)
  • ND 12 Grove City 0 (W 15-8) Var.
  • ND 15 Cal Tech 3 (W 16-8) Var.
  • ND 11 Grand Valley St. 2 (W 17-8)
  • ND 14 Univ. Ottowa 13 (W 18-8) Var. SDOT

April 2-4 Miami Classic, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 16 Northwestern 2 (W 19-8)
  • ND 3 Cal Poly 5 (L 19-9)
  • ND 9 Florida 7 (W 20-9)
  • ND 9 Illinois 5 (W 21-9)

April 16-18 CWPA Midwest Division Championships, Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO

  • ND 13 Eastern Michigan 1 (W 22-9)
  • ND 15 Grand Valley St. 3 (W 23-9)
  • ND 2 Miami, OH 3 (L 23-10)


2004 – 2005 Season

2004-’05: Lost Midwest championship to Miami at Miami.  Miami went on to finish fourth at Nationals.  We did not receive an at-large bid to Nationals but ended the season with a final national ranking of 12th in the polls.  Kristy Bohling and Kimmy Moore were named to first team Midwest and Bridget O’Neill and MC Cimino were named to the second team.  Kimmy Moore was named Honorable Mention All American.  This is the first year CWPA awarded All American Honors to Club Athletes.  Team Captains were Kimmy Moore, Kristy Bohling and Katie Lancos.

February 12-13  Sweetheart Invitational, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

  • ND 14 Florida St. 3 (W 1-0)
  • ND 5 Florida 7 (L 1-1)
  • ND 14 Virginia 3 (W 2-1)
  • ND 7 Colorado 5 (W 3-1)

February 19-20  CWPA Midwest Divisional, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 15 Western Michigan 2 (W 4-1)
  • ND 15 Eastern Michigan 1 (W 5-1)
  • ND 15 Grand Valley St. 4 (W 6-1)
  • ND 14 Eastern Michigan 2 (W 7-1)

March 6     University of Southern California

  • ND 8 USC 4 (W 8-1)

March 7      Pepperdine University,  Malibu, CA

  • ND 11 Pepperdine 9 (W 9-1)

March 9     Cal State Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA

  • ND 4 Cal Poly 8 (L 9-2)

March 12-13  Coyote Classic, CSU San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

  • ND 13 Claeremont MS 11 (W 10-2) Var.
  • ND 9 Laverne 8 (W 11-2) Var.
  • ND 7 CSU San Bernardino 10 (L 11-3) Var.
  • ND 6 Chapman 7 (L 11-4) Var.

March 18-20  Penn State Behrend Invitational, Erie, PA

  • ND 17 Univ. Ottowa 10 (W 12-4) Var.
  • ND 10 Maryland 5 (W 13-4) Var.
  • ND 14 Utica 1 (W 14-4) Var.
  • ND 6 Iona 2 (W 15-4) Var.
  • ND 6 Villanova 7 (L 15-5) Var. 

April 1-3  Miami Classic, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 2 Miami 3 (L 15-6)
  • ND 11 Northwestern 3 (W 16-6)
  • ND 7 Purdue 5 (W 17-6)
  • ND 6 Slippery Rock 5 (W 18-6) Var.

April 16-17 CWPA Midwest Division Championships, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 17 Washington Univ. 3 (W 19-6)
  • ND 9 Miami, OH “B” 5 (W 20-6) ND 6 Miami, OH 10 (L 20-7)


2005 – 2006 Season

2005-’06: Lost Midwest championship to Miami at Notre Dame.  Miami went on to finish fourth at Nationals.  We received an at-large bid to Nationals and were paired to play Michigan State (won NCCC) in the first round (#1 in the country going into the tournament).  After our loss to MSU we beat Carelton (Heartland Champion), Yale (New England Champion) and Northwestern (Big Ten Host representative).  By winning out we finished ninth at the CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships which is the highest we could have after a first round loss.  Notre Dame finished ranked 7th Nationally in the final poll of 2006 (ahead of MIT and Rice who finished above, but did not play the Irish at Nationals).  Kristy Bohling was named first team All-Midwest, Bridget O’Neill was named second team.  Coughlin was named Midwest coach of the year.  Team Captains were Kristy Bohling, Katie Lancos and MC Cimino.

February 3-5 Co-ed Benefit Invite, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

  • ND 16 Ohio University 3 (W 1-0)
  • ND 11 Penn State Univ. 5 (W 2-0)
  • ND 15 James Madison 2 (W 3-0)
  • ND 16 Duke 5 (W 4-0)

February 11-12  Michigan Valentine Invite, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

  • ND 8 Univ. of Michigan 3 (W 5-0)
  • ND 14 Miami, OH “B” 4 (W 6-0)
  • ND 3 Miami, OH 6 (L 6-1)
  • ND 9 Michigan St. 11 (L 6-2)

February 24-26  CWPA Midwest Divisional, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

  • ND 15 Dayton 3 (W 7-2)
  • ND 21 Ohio University 0 (W 8-2)
  • ND 12 Eastern Michigan 4 (W 9-2)
  • ND 4 Miami, OH 10 (L 9-3)

March 12     Coyote Classic, CSU San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

  • ND 4 Colorado St. 11 (L 9-4) Var.
  • ND 18 Macalester 2 (W 10-4) Var.

March 13      Pepperdine University,  Malibu, CA

  • ND – Pepperdine – (10-4)

March 14     UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

  • ND – UCLA – (10-4)
  • 6 Quarter Scrimmage no score was kept (3Q each  “A”  & “B” teams)

March 15     Cal State Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA

  • ND 11 Cal Poly 13 (L 10-5)

March 25-26  Spartan Invitational, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

  • ND 14 Eastern Michigan 5 (W 11-5)
  • ND 6 Purdue 4 (W 12-5) 
  • ND 8 Miami OH 10 (L 12-6) 
  • ND 7 Michigan State 11 (L 12-7)

April 1-3  Miami Classic, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 9 Illinois 6 (W 13-7)
  • ND 2 Michigan State 9 (L 13-8)
  • ND 11 Purdue 6 (W 14-8)
  • ND 7 Northwestern 9 (L 14-9) 

April 8  Round Robin @ the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 14 Wisconsin 2 (W 15-9)
  • ND 12 Northwestern 6 (W 16-9)

April 22-23 CWPA Midwest Division Championships, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 16 Washington Univ. 2 (W 17-9)
  • ND 11 Eastern Michigan 7 (W 18-9)
  • ND 9 Grand Valley St. 4 (W 19-9)
  • ND 5 Miami, OH 9 (L 19-10)

May 5-7 CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

  • ND 8 Michigan State 12 (L 19-11)
  • ND 14 Carleton College 4 (W 20-11)
  • ND 14 Yale 13SDOT (W 21-11)
  • ND 10 Northwestern 9 (W 22-11)


2006 – 2007 Season

2006-’07:  Won the Midwest championship at Notre Dame with a convincing win over Grand Valley State University 15-3 after spotting them an early 0-2 advantage.  Miami played in the newly created Ohio Valley Conference.  We received an automatic bid to Nationals and were paired to play Fresno State (won NCCC) in the first round (#2 in the country going into the tournament).  We were ranked number 3 most of the year and going into the tournament.  After our loss to Fresno State we beat Columbia University (New York Division Champion), lost to Florida (South East Division Champion) on a controversial last second shot and beat Dartmouth (New England Division Champion).  We finished eleventh at the CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships.  Michigan finished third by beating Michigan State who finished fourth.  Notre Dame’s combined record versus the two schools was 9-1 for the year.  Notre Dame finished ranked 11th Nationally in the final poll of 2007.  Kristin Schmitt, Kelly Horner, MC Cimino and Betsy O’Neill were named first team All-Midwest.  Bridget O’Neill, Kristen Harchut and Christina Romano were named to the second team.  Betsy O’Neill was named Midwest Conference MVP and 2nd Team All-American. Coughlin was named Midwest coach of the year.  Team Captains were Kristin Schmitt, Bridget O’Neill and Kelly Horner.

November 11-12 UVA Fall Invitational, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

  • ND 10 James Madison Univ. 2 (W 1-0)
  • ND 14 U. of Richmond 4 (W 2-0)
  • ND 14 Univ. of North Carolina 2 (W 3-0)
  • ND 8 Univ. of Guelph 6 (W 4-0) Var

February 3-4  Spartan Invitational, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

  • ND 7 MSU/Miami Alum 6 SDOT (W 5-0)
  • ND 15 Wisconsin 2 (W 6-0) 
  • ND 6 Toronto Club 7 (L 6-1) 
  • ND 1 Michigan State 2 (L 6-2)

February 11-12  Michigan Valentine Invite, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

  • ND 6 Miami, OH 2 (W 7-2)
  • ND 14 Eastern Michigan 10 (W 8-2)
  • ND 9 Univ. of Michigan 5 (W 9-2)
  • ND 12 Ohio State 10 (W 10-2)
  • ND 12 Michigan State 0 (W 11-2)

February 24,25  CWPA Midwest Regionals, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

  • ND 14 Eastern Michigan 2 (W 12-2)
  • ND 15 Bowling Green 2 (W 13-2)
  • ND 15 GVSU 4 (W 14-2)
  • ND 16 Western Michigan 3 (W 15-2)

March 11     Coyote Classic, CSU San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

  • ND 11 Macalester 3 (W 16-2) Var.
  • ND 4 Colorado St. 11 (L 16-3) Var.

March 13      CSU San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

  • ND 9 CSU San Bernardino 11 (L 16-4) Var.

March 14      Pepperdine University,  Malibu, CA

  • ND – Pepperdine – (16-4)

March 15     Cal State Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA

  • ND 5 Cal Poly 6 (L 16-5)

March 24-25 Grand Valley Invitational, Jennison High School, Grand Rapids, MI

  • ND 13 Michigan “B” 3 (W 17-5)
  • ND 15 College of Guelph 2 (W 18-5) Var.
  • ND 4 Miami OH 7 (L 18-6) 
  • ND 4 Michigan State 3 (W 19-6)

March 30-31  Miami Classic, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • April 1st ND 15 Illinois 5 (W 20-6)
  • ND 7 Michigan 4 (W 21-6)
  • ND 15 Purdue 4 (W 22-6)
  • ND 4 Cal Poly 9 (L 22-7)
  • ND 8 Michigan State 5 (W 23-7)

April 14  Round Robin @ the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 12 Michigan State 4 (W 24-7)
  • ND 8 Michigan 7 OT (W 25-7)

April 21 CWPA Midwest Division Championships, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 15 Western Michigan 2 (W 26-7)
  • ND 15 Grand Valley St. 3 (W 27-7)

May 4-6 CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships, Williams College, Williamstown, MA

  • ND 3 Fresno State 8 (L 27-8)
  • ND 15 Columbia Univ. 1 (W 28-8)
  • ND 3 Univ. of Florida 4 (L 28-9)
  • ND 13 Dartmouth Univ. 7 (W 29-9)


2007 – 2008 Season

2007-’08:  Won the Midwest championship at the University of Dayton with a convincing win over Grand Valley State University13-6.  Miami played in the re-combined Midwest Division.  We received an automatic bid to Nationals and were paired to play the University of Florida in the first round (#4 in the country going into the tournament).  We were ranked number 3 most of the year and going into the tournament.    Our loss to Florida was a tough one.  We drew 7 man-ups and converted none (one of which was a 6-4).  We also drew two 5M’s and did not convert either.  There were also a number of counter attack opportunities that we did not convert.  We were down 6-2 with 4+ minutes to play and put ourselves in a situation to tie with :18 and did not convert.  We were only kicked out once in the entire game and it was with :3 to go.  After our loss to Florida we beat the University of Washington #15 in the country at the time(Northwest Division #2).  The score was 9-1 after the 1st quarter and everyone played big minutes. We then beat New York University #18 at the time (New York Division Champs).  We gave our spot in the 9/10 game to NYU due to concerns about making our flight home.  Our final place in the tournament is up to the discretion of the CWPA.  Notre Dame finished ranked 9th Nationally in the final poll of 2008.  Kelly Horner, Bridget O’Neill, Christina Romano and Betsy O’Neill were named first team All-Midwest.  Kat Kennifer  was named second team.  Bridget O’Neill was named Midwest Conference MVP and 2nd Team at Nationals. Coughlin was named Midwest coach of the year.  We also had 4 players named All American, Bridget O’Neill 1st Team, Betsy O’Neill 2nd, Kelly Horner 3rd, and Christina Romano HM.  The 07-08 team was the first ever Notre Dame water polo team to be ranked number one in the country.  It had the highest winning percentage and number of wins in the history of the program.  We were 7-4 against Varsity competition and 29-2 against club teams including a win over the eventual national club champs Cal Poly.  Team Captains were Kelly Horner, Kristen Harchut and Betsy O’Neill.

December 1  Round Robin @ the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 12 Western Michigan 1 (W 1-0)
  • ND 7 Michigan 5 (W 2-0)
  • ND 13 Grand Valley St. 3 (W 3-0)

February 1-3  Spartan Invitational, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

  • ND 11 Illinois 4 (W 4-0)
  • ND 14 Lindenwood 1 (W 5-0) 
  • ND 10 CAWP (MW Zone) 5 (W 6-0) 
  • ND 5 Michigan 4 OT (W 7-0)

February 8-10  Michigan Valentine Invite, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

  • ND 13 Eastern Michigan 3 (W 8-0)
  • ND 10 Miami, OH 5 (W 9-0)
  • ND 5 Michigan State 3 (W 10-0)
  • ND 5 Michigan 4 (W 11-0)

February 23-24 CWPA Midwest Division Regionals, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 14 Ohio University 3 (W 12-0)
  • ND 10 Miami, OH 2 (W 13-0)
  • ND 14 Washington Univ. 3 (W14-0)
  • ND 11 Grand Valley St. 4 (W 15-0)

February 29    Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

  • ND 15 Wheaton 5 (16-0) Var.

March 2    Cal Poly Invitational, Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

  • ND 10 Cal Maritime 2 (17-0)
  • ND 9 Fresno State 0 (18-0)
  • ND 7 Cal Poly “B” 0 (19-0)

March 3   UC Davis,  Davis, CA

  • ND – Davis “A” – 
  • ND – Davis “B” –

March 4    CSU Monterey Bay,  Monterey, CA

  • ND 5 CSU Monterey Bay 11 (L 19-1) Var.

March 5     Cal State Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA

  • ND 7 Cal Poly 8

March 6     UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

  • ND – UCLA –

March 9     Coyote Classic, CSU San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

  • ND 6 Cal Baptist 7 OT (L19-2) Var.
  • ND 4 CSU San Bernardino 11 (L 19-3) Var.

March 15-16  Snowy Seven Invitational, Utica College, Utica, NY

  • ND 15 Utica College 1 (W 20-3) Var.
  • ND 15 Queens College 1 (W 21-3) Var.
  • ND 11 Gannon University 6 (W 22-3) Var.
  • ND 10 Slippery Rock University 5 (W 23-3) Var.
  • ND 6 Iona College 7 (L 23-4) Var.

March 18     Carthage College @ the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

  • ND 14 Carthage College 8 (W 24-4) Var.

Pull Updates:

  • March 21-22   Off – Subsequent poll saw Notre Dame rise to #1 for the first time in Club history.

March 28-30    Miami Classic, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • ND 12 U of Penn (#8) 10 OT (W 25-4)
  • ND 14 Wisconsin 4 (W 26-4)
  • ND 9 Michigan (#6) 4 (W 27-4)
  • ND 4 Cal Poly (#3) 3 (W 28-4) 

April 5-6  Boilermaker Invitational, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

  • ND 10 Michigan State ‘B’ 3 (W 29-4)
  • ND 12 Purdue Alumni 5 (W 30-4)
  • ND 11 Wheaton College 6 (W 31-4) Var.
  • ND 2 Michigan (#5) 8 (L 31-5)

April 12-13 CWPA Midwest Division Championships, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

  • ND 16 Washington University 1 (W 32-5)
  • ND 15 University of Dayton 1 (W 33-5)
  • ND 13 Grand Valley State Univ. 6 (W 34-5)

May 2-4 CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships, University of Oregon, Gresham, OR

  • ND 5 University of  Florida (#4) 6 (L 34-6)
  • ND 15 Univ. of Washington (#15)8 (W 35-6)
  • ND 19 New York Univ. (#18) 1 (W 36-6)