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NORTH ALLEGHENY  VARSITY 
WATER POLO

File Photo by Al Durick, Portraits Plus Studio

LADY TIGERS GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AT STATE TOURNAMENT

The Lady Tigers lost three games at the State Championship Tournament at Pottsville High School on Friday and Saturday.  On Friday, Souderton defeated NA, 14-5, while on Saturday, it was Cumberland Valley with a 15-3 win and Pottsville with a 16-3 victory over the Lady Tigers.  The NA program is in only its third year and the Lady Tigers played only eight games this year.  Other teams in the tournament had a full schedule of 25-30 games.

Coach Corky Semler gave this report to the swimming community:

"Wow!  An eventful weekend for North Allegheny water polo!  Although the girls water polo team did not manage a victory this past weekend in their first trip to the State Championship tournament, there were no end to the compliments we heard about the progress our program has made in just three short years.  From the former head of scholastic USS water polo to every coach attending the tournament the feedback was flattering.  The consensus was that we should be pretty excited about the progress our program has made and that the sky is the limit for us should we continue on our present path of improvement.  I believe that the boys' team should also internalize these remarks because our boys' team is teetering on the brink of a breakthrough season soon as the girls have experienced this year.  Anyway, we all had a great time and learned tons!  We discovered that we are capable of playing with the best teams statewide.  We were so effective defensively against Cumberland Valley, the eventual state champion, that they changed their offense to counter strategies we used against them.

Katie Belardi was selected to the 4th team All State and Andrea White and Emily Tong were honored with 3rd team selections to the All State team.  These three are the first female NA players to receive such honors.  To put this in perspective, last season Stephen Shepard was selected to the 2nd All State team becoming our first All State player, and this season played and started for the Notre Dame Water Polo team, scoring significant goals in big games.  Pennsylvania Water Polo is making a huge impact all across the country and athletes selected to PA All State teams are consistently playing at higher levels once they leave high school.  We originally began this program, in part, to give our athletes additional opportunities for their collegiate years.  We didn't foresee how quickly this would happen."

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH SEMLER AND THE LADY TIGERS!

PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL WATER POLO
WOMEN'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
POTTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
October 31st-November 1st, 2003

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VILLA MARIA FALLS TO NA, 5-3, AS LADY TIGERS ADVANCE TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Lady Tigers defeated Villa Maria, 5-3, on Wednesday night for the right to advance to the state championships.  NA is the first team in WPIAL history to qualify for the state playoffs.  The state tournament will be held at Pottsville High School next Friday and Saturday.

Juniors Katie Belardi and Kim Jenkins led the way for NA.  Belardi scored three goals and Jenkins added two more for the victorious Lady Tigers.  Senior Emily Tong played a spectacular game in goal, stopping over two dozen shots insuring the win.  The defense was at its best, stopping 9 of 10 man down (power play) situations.

The playoff pairings have not been announced yet.  As soon as we receive the pairings, we will post them.

Thanks to Coach Corky Semler for information in this report.

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JENKINS LEADS LADY TIGERS OVER VILLA MARIA IN OVERTIME

Junior Kim Jenkins scored five goals, including three in overtime, as the Lady Tigers upset perennial power Villa Maria, 12-10, in Erie on Saturday.  NA got four goals from junior Andrea White, three more from junior Katie Belardi, and a single tally by junior Tara Thompson.   It was the first win by NA over Villa Maria.  It still appears, however,  that Villa Maria will represent Western Pennsylvania in the state playoffs based on goal differential in the two games played.

The boys' team dropped a 15-6 contest to Erie Cathedral Prep at Erie on Saturday.  Junior Rob Semanchik scored four goals while sophomores Steve Hilty and Craig Bentzen added tallies for NA.

On Friday, the NA teams dropped a pair of games to powerful McDowell from Erie.   In the girls game, the Trojans downed the Lady Tigers, 10-2, with Jenkins and Thompson scoring for NA.  The boys' team was defeated by McDowell, 14-4, with Semanchik, Hilty, junior Jeff Glick, and sophomore Andrew Keelan garnering the goals.

The Tigers will be back in action on Thursday night when they host Chartiers Valley at the Senior High pool.  Game time is scheduled for 5:00 pm.

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UNDERCLASSMEN LEAD TIGERS TO 12-8 VICTORY

Tiger underclassmen led the way on Monday night as the Tigers defeated South Park, 12-8,  for their second win over the Eagles this season.  Sophomore Patrick Kirsch had three goals to lead all scorers.  Freshman Conor Battle and sophomore Patrick Kirsch added two goals each as the Tigers stayed unbeaten against WPIAL competition this year.

The Tigers will host McDowell from Erie on Friday at the Senior High pool.  Game time is set for 5:00 pm.

(Be sure to check the Photo Gallery for pictures from last night's game!)

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WATER POLO TEAMS HAVE TOUGH WEEKEND IN ERIE

The Tiger water polo teams traveled to Erie on Saturday for a series of games against Erie teams.  In girls competition, the Lady Tigers lost three games.  Villa Maria downed NA, 14-6, Killborne beat the Tigers, 15-4, and McDowell topped NA, 10-5.  Junior Tara Thompson led the Lady Tigers with five goals for the day.

In boys' games, Cathedral Prep downed the Tigers, 15-8, while McDowell outscored NA, 18-5.  In boys' JV action, it was McDowell winning, 14-3.  Junior Jeff Glick and sophomore Craig Bentzen had three goals each for the Tigers. 

Tonight, the team will meet South Park at the Senior High pool.  Game time is scheduled for 5:00 pm.

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TIGERS CRUSH CHARTIERS VALLEY, 12-4

The Tigers defeated Chartiers Valley, 12-4, on Thursday night at Chartiers Valley.  Sophomore Andrew Shepard scored three goals for NA, with junior Jeff Glick, junior Rob Semanchik, and sophomore Steve Hilty adding two each.  The victory was the second straight for NA after defeating South Park, 12-2, in the opener.

The next action for the team will be on Saturday, September 27, when they travel to Erie.  The next home appearance will be on Monday, September 29, when they host South Park.  Game time is set for 5:00 pm at the Senior High pool.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 12  CHARTIERS VALLEY - 4

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org