Water polo trio earns All-America honors

ORANGE, Calif. – For the first time since 2006, the Chapman University women's water polo team has had three players named to the NCAA Division III All-America team as selected by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC). Freshman utility Riley Ford was named to the second team while junior utility Sam Martin and sophomore driver Julie Case earned honorable mention.

Ford became the first Panther in four years to earn second team honors following a rookie season in which she scored 59 goals, added 20 assists and led Chapman with 69 steals. Her 59 goals were second on the team, just one behind Martin and she scored four goals in a game five times during her freshman campaign.

Meanwhile, Martin earned the honor for the second straight year leading all Panthers with 60 goals – a career-high and the most for a Panther since 2009. The junior added 15 assists and 21 earned ejections. And Case also earned honorable mention for the first time in her career after leading Chapman with 47 assists to go along with 27 goals and 37 steals.

The trio helped Chapman achieve its first winning season since 2004 with an overall record of 14-12.

Each year, the ACWPC names the top players from all divisions to its All-America teams, including Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards. The ACWPC also sponsors an All-Academic team for the top scholars in the sport every summer.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

All-America Teams: http://www.collegewaterpolocoach.org/uploads/4/8/6/0/4860444/2012_acwpc_final_aa_teams.pdf

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