In the past three years, Oregon club women’s water polo has been full of surprises. In 2007, they claimed fifth at the Women’s Collegiate Water Polo National Championship tournament. In 2008, they made it to the national championship game, but came up short in overtime against heavily-favored Cal Poly.
Last year, despite losing several key players from the year before, club coordinator Laura von Stockhausen and the Ducks surprised many yet again in a third-place finish at the 2009 nationals.
But this year, the Ducks aren’t planning any surprises. It’s no secret they intend to return to
nationals this April.
The upcoming season certainly looks promising for the Ducks, who have dominated the Northwest Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association in the last decade, winning seven division titles in a row.
Oregon boasts formidable depth this season, with a big influx of freshmen to bolster a team that is already returning all but one player from last year’s roster. The Ducks’ roster has so many players, in fact they have both an A and a B team, the only program in their division to do so.
“So far, from what we can tell, we have a lot more speed coming in,” said Stockhausen, who is playing in her fourth season with the Ducks. “Having more players well help us because we’ll be able to be competitive through all four quarters, not that we’ve had that problem in the past, but it will definitely give us an advantage.”
In addition to their speed and depth, Oregon will play under the reign of new coach Chet Eimstad. Eimstad played at Bucknell University for one year, receiving rookie of the year honors there, and has played beneath Olympian Maureen O’Toole.
“He’s a very positive coach,” said sophomore Emma Carella. “Instead of in the past where we had more aggressive coaches, he takes the time to directly talk to the players.
“Everything is directed to make our game better while doing conditioning at the same time. He’s a very knowledgeable coach … He’s really positive about what he’s doing and he always shows up with a smile on his face.”
While only in the second week of practice, Eimstad has already implemented new drills and conditioning techniques.
“All of the swimming we do is without lanes to simulate playing in a game,” he said. “We do a lot of freestyle swimming, such as changing the strokes a little bit, doing a kick with a stroke you’re not used to. I try to add the water polo element to everything we do.”
While the new season is very young, already it is evident the Ducks’ roster is laden with talent. Returning driver Beth Gordon and goalie Jessica Kragt were both selected to the CWPA’s national first-team last year, while Katie Peront and Lizzy Flower were selected first-team all-conference for 2009.
Yet, even with the returning talent, the team is still wary of the talented teams they will have to beat to be successful this season. One of the biggest upcoming tests for Oregon will be a tournament hosted by perennial powerhouse Cal Poly at the end of January in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
“A big thing that’s different in the Oregon and Washington district is that it’s a slower-moving game,” Carella said. “It’s not as quick up here, so when we get down to California it’s a slap in the face because it’s super fast. You have to be quick in the right positions because the California teams are very, very competitive.”
Oregon kicks off its season with a league tournament in Washington on Jan. 23. It will be one of the two league tournaments of the season that determine whether or not the Ducks return to the national tournament.
Even though they have yet to play a game in the young season, the team’s focus, not surprisingly, remains concentrated on preparing for that national tournament in Tucson, Ariz., that begins April 23.
The ultimate goal?
“To win a national championship,” Carella said without the slightest hesitation.
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