April 1, 2006

Stats

College Park, MD -- The Wagner College women's water polo team was victorious in the opening game of the ECAC Championships held at the University of Maryland as the fourth seeded Seahawks knocked off the fifth seeded Brown University Bears by a count of 8-5. The victory moves the Green & White to 15-10 on the year and they advance in the winner's bracket of the tournament to take on either Villanova or Princeton later on this evening.

Brown attempted to bring Wagner's highpowered offense to a halt in this contest and accomplished just that as the first half crawled along at a pace that would make a snail proud. Brown tallied the first goal but the Seahawks answered back with goals by junior Stacey Travous (New Ulm, MN/Cumberland Valley) and senior Sara Kramer (Carlisle, PA/Cumberland Valley). Kramer's goal came as a result of a four meter penalty drawn by Travous, one of three she would draw on the day. The Bears answered with a goal to close out the first and after one the game was tied at two.

The second quarter saw just one score, a four meter penalty shot by sophomore Billy Hoelck (San Diego, CA/U. of San Diego HS) and Wagner held the slimmest of leads 3-2 headed into the half. Brown once again showed their resiliency as they scored to open play in the second half. Wagner battled back with goals by Courtney Crase (Saratoga, CA/Saratoga) and Anne Wolkenhauer (Fullerton, CA/Fullerton Union) to give the Seahawks a two goal advantage at 5-3. The two teams would trade a goal apiece and the action would move to the fourth quarter with Wagner holding a 6-4 lead.

Wagner scored early and late in the fourth as junior Natasha Peterson (Whittier, CA/La Habra) opened the frame with a goal and Stacey Travous closed it with her third score for the hat trick. Brown would score just one goal in the period and would be unable to overcome the deficit leading to the 8-5 Seahawk win.

Junior Katie Hauck (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) was a difference maker in net redirecting nine Brown shots to preserve the win. She also showed some cat like quickness in making four steals.