BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –Water Polo Canada announced their official roster for the upcoming FINA World League Super Final in Shanghai. Former Hoosiers Shae Fournier, Jakie Köhli, and Jessica Gaudreault were three of the thirteen players selected to represent Canada in the tournament, their second tournament selection this year.
“We are very proud of Shae, Jess, and Jakie’s contributions to the Canadian National Team’s preparations for Rio 2016,” said Indiana water polo head coach Barry King. “The fact that Indiana University is responsible for almost a quarter of the roster confirms the quality experience a student athlete can and will have here. We look forward to following their individual and team progress.”
Most recently, Fournier, Köhli, and Gaudreault took part in Canada’s FINA World League Intercontinental Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. The Canadians went 2-1 in the group stage to set up a promising run in the crossover. Canada fell in their semifinal match against top-ranked United States, but earned the bronze medal with a come-from-behind win against No. 2 China on the tournament’s final day.
The Canadian women are currently ranked eighth in the world, and will take on the top water polo talent in the world at the FINA Super Final. Canada will open the week against the Netherlands on June 9, followed by reigning Olympic Gold winner United States on June 10 and Brazil on June 11. Following that, the teams will be seeded based on group results for an eight-team playoff.
Shae Fournier (2011-2014) is one of the most decorated players in Indiana Water Polo history. She holds the top two school records for single-season goals (95 in 2014, 83 in 2013) and career goals (305), and is second in IU history in career steals (311). Fournier was the 2014 CWPA Player of the Year, and earned second team All-American and first-team Academic All-American honors. Fournier is one of five players in NCAA history to score 300 or more goals in her career.
Jacqueline “Jakie” Köhli (2008-2013) is another Hoosier who stuffed IU’s record books. Köhli ranks third and seventh all-time in single-season goals (80 in 2010, 71 in 2011), and sixth all-time in season steals (89, 2011). Köhli posted strong numbers throughout her tenure at IU, and finished her career third in career goals (244), fifth in career assists (134), and third in career steals (276). Her accolades include a 2011 All-America Honorable Mention selection, NCAA Championship All-Tournament Second Team honors in 2012, and a 2011 All-CWPA Second Team selection.
Jessica Gaudreault (2013-2014) had two outstanding seasons for the Hoosiers, earning CWPA All-Conference First Team honors in her freshman and sophomore seasons. Gaudreault ranks sixth in IU history in both single-season saves (245 in 2014) and career saves (444).
Gaudreault joined Köhli and Fournier on the Canadian Women’s National Team following her sophomore season. She will remain with the Canadian squad through 2015 and 2016 in hopes of grabbing a slot on Canada’s 2016 Olympic games roster. Gaudreault competed for her Canada in 2014 at the FINA Super Final in China, where she finished 2-4. She plans to return to Indiana following the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Swimming news courtesy of Indiana University.