HOOK SHOT: Princeton University women’s water polo player Camille Hooks fires the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, freshman star Hooks scored three goals, including the game-winner, as Princeton edged host Brown 7-6 in overtime in the semifinals of the Eastern Championships in Providence, R.I. A day later, Hooks and the Tigers nipped Maryland 6-5 to win the title. The 13th-ranked Tigers, now 28-4, earned the No. 6 seed in the 2012 NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship and will face third-seeded USC in the quarterfinals on May 11 at San Diego State’s Aztec Aquaplex. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

It didn’t take long for Luis Nicolao to realize that his 2012 Princeton University women’s water polo team might be something special.

“From day one, it has been a fun group to coach,” said Princeton head coach Nicolao. “All year, this group has been confident. We have won a lot of close games.”

Last weekend, Tigers knew they were in for some tight contests as they competed in the Eastern Championships in Providence, R.I. at Brown University’s pool.

“I tell the girls that when you get to Easterns, every game is a challenge,” said Nicolao, who is in his 14th season overseeing both the men’s and women’s water polo programs at Princeton. “Everyone is playing for their lives.”

The Tigers proved to be up for the challenge, topping Harvard 9-6 in the quarterfinals and edging host Brown 7-6 in overtime in the semis to earn a shot at Maryland in the title game. Exuding its trademark confidence, Princeton avenged a regular season defeat to the Terps, winning 6-5 to earn the program’s first trip to the NCAAs.

The 13th-ranked Tigers, now 28-4, earned the No. 6 seed in the 2012 NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship and will face third-seeded USC in the quarterfinals on May 11 at San Diego State’s Aztec Aquaplex.

In the game against Harvard, it looked like Princeton might have to wait another year to make it to the NCAAs, as it fought hard but was deadlocked 3-3 at halftime.

“I told them to keep playing their game,” recalled Nicolao. “It has been our M.O. this year. We come out slowly and then we rally. I think that is a testament to our depth. We are able to wear teams down.”

Princeton sophomore star Katie Rigler got her shots to fall, scoring four goals to lead the way for the Tigers in the win over the Crimson.

“Rigler always has the top attention of the other teams,” said Nicolao of the native of  Fullerton, Calif., who was later named the  MVP of the CWPA Eastern Championship and to the all-tournament first team. “She always gets the top defender. She is always going at it and battling.”

In the semifinal contest against host Brown, the Tigers found themselves in an uphill battle.

“Our shots were not falling and their crowd was going wild,” said Nicolao. “Midway through the third quarter we were down 5-2 and I made wholesale changes. I put in five fresh bodies and they got it back to 5-5.”

Freshman star Camille Hooks came up big to help Princeton survive the bears, scoring with eight seconds left in regulation to knot the game at 6-6 and force overtime and then scoring the game-winner with 2:07 remaining in the first extra period.

“Hooks had the game of her life,” asserted Nicolao of the Beverly Hills, Calif. native who had three goals in the contest. “She is a steady, smart player. She never gets rattled and she made some huge shots.”

The Tigers faced a huge challenge in the championship game as they looked to turn the tables on a 14th-ranked Maryland squad that beat Princeton 7-6 in the regular season game between the teams.

“We talked about coming out better than we did before against them,” said Nicolao, noting that the Tigers trailed the Terps 7-1 in that March 31 contest. “Maryland comes out fast; they had Michigan down 3-0 the night before in the semis.”

With Princeton tied 3-3 at half with the Terps, Nicolao sensed that his squad was primed to pull out another close victory.

“The girls believed in themselves; we had the better play in the first half but the shots weren’t falling,” said Nicolao. “At half, there was a feeling that we are going to get this.”

The teams were locked in a 4-4 stalemate heading into the fourth quarter and Princeton seized the momentum as Taylor Dunstan and Brittany Zwirner found the back of the net to give the Tigers a lead they never relinquished.

“We got two goals on counter attacks early in the fourth quarter and then it was hold-your-breath time,” said Nicolao, who also got two goals from Rigler in the win with senior goalie Kristen Ward making 13 saves. “We kept playing great defense.”

While the win was a great moment for Nicolao and his program, he experienced some mixed emotions in the wake of the triumph.

“It was so exciting but it was also bittersweet,” said Nicolao. “I am lifelong friends with the Maryland coaches [Carl Sayler and Serela Kay] and I saw the look on their faces. I have been on that side and I know what it’s like. I am so thrilled to win it; I am so happy for the girls. We can’t stop smiling today.”

Having endured some tough defeats in the Easterns helped Nicolao motivate his players.

“It has been a tough road; it has been a long haul,” said Nicolao, who last guided the Tiger women to the Eastern title in 2000 and an appearance in the Collegiate National Championships, the predecessor to the NCAAs.

“We have lost some tough games in the semis. We won two of three games this weekend by one goal. It is hard to get to this point, I told them to go out and make the most of the moment.”

Nicolao is looking for his players to make the most of their opportunity as they compete in the NCAAs.

“We have to play great defense; we are going to be seeing great opponents,” said Nicolao. “We have to be relaxed but not just happy to be there.”

But no matter what happens in San Diego, Nicolao will have many happy memories of the 2012 campaign.