March 3, 2007

Stats

Cambridge, MA -- Despite a furious second half rally the Wagner College women's water polo fell to 20th ranked Brown for the second time this season by a count of 12-11 in the opening round of the ECAC Championships held at Harvard University. The loss drops Wagner to 6-5 on the season with a second round match looming against the host Crimson.

The contest opened with the Bears striking first just 39 seconds into the game to take the lead 1-0. Wagner would answer on a goal by junior Billy Hoelck (San Diego, CA/U. of San Diego HS) to even the match at 1-1. Brown would score two of the next three goals and close the first period in the lead at 3-2.

Brown tried to put the game away in the second half with three consecutive goals the last coming at 4:43 remaining in the period to balloon their lead to 6-2. The Seahawks retaliated with goals by Amber McMichael (Reading, PA/Governore Mifflin), and Stacey Travous (New Ulm, MN/Cumberland Valley) to bring the score within two goals at 6-4. Brown would strike again but that would be countered by one of the three goals on the day for sophomore Nicole Maichrowicz (Temple City, CA/Temple City) and the game pulled into halftime with Brown in front 7-5.

Wagner had the shovels out again at the start of the third as they dug themselves into another hole allowing a trio of Bear goals to fall behind 10-5. They would also once again make a rally which started when senior goalie Katie Hauck (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) denied a Brown five-meter penalty shot to keep Wagner within shouting distance. Hauck would go on to pile up 10 saves, while robbing Brown via the steal on six other occasions. The offense then woke up scoring four in a row in a run that spanned the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. Hoelck accounted for three of the goals, the last coming on a five-meter penalty. Maichrowicz would tack on another, via a five-meter penalty drawn by Stacey Travous.

The Bears scored a goal to quell the Seahawk run with 5:13 to go, making the score 11-9 in favor of Brown. Wagner's fate appeared to be sealed when moments later another Brown goal was scored upping the tally to 12-9 Bears. However, after an official review it was revealed that the last goal was scored while a previously ejected player was in the water. This resulted in a negation of the Bear's 12th goal and earned Wagner a five-meter penalty which they promptly capitalized on as Holeck deposited one of her six goals into the net.

Brown would not relent as moments later they tallied another scoring, giving them a true 12 goals on the day to make it again a two goal advantage with 3:55 to go. Hoelck would again answer the call connecting on a shot to bring Wagner back within one goal at 12-11. The Seahawks had the ball with under a minute remaining with a chance to tie the game but were unable to convert.