April 28, 2007

Stats

Poughkeepsie, NY --The Wagner College women's water polo team will play for the MAAC Championship and a berth to the NCAA tournament tomorrow after defeating the third seeded Iona College Gaels 13-9 earlier today in the semifinals of the MAAC tournament. The win moves Wagner's overall record to 16-14 on the season and the second seeded Seahawks will take on the winner of the other semifinal featuring #1 Marist and #4 Villanova.

As for this game, Iona jumped out with an early lead taking a 1-0 advantage a little over 90 seconds into the game. Wagner responded in a hurry with a goal by junior Amber McMichael (Reading, PA/Gov. Mifflin) and then raised the ante with a score by Stacey Travous (New Ulm, MN/Cumberland Valley) to give the Seahawks their first lead at 2-1. The first quarter went back and forth as the teams alternated goals until the score reached 4-4. Alexandra Tomlinson (Telford, PA/Souderton) tallied a score in that period and Billy Hoelck (San Diego, CA/U. of San Diego HS) added two goals to secure a 5-4 lead for Wagner to end the first. This would be a lead the Seahawks would never relinquish.

The second period was marked by a Stacey Travous goal 16 seconds in and another Stacey Travous goal with just 30 seconds remaining in the quarter. In between, the Seahawk defense locked down the Gaels allowing just one score while getting a third goal on offense for the period from Nicole Maichrowicz (Temple City, CA/Temple City). Maichrowicz was also stellar on defense putting the clamps on the high scoring Amanda Brucia for Iona as she scored just three goals.

In the third stanza the Gaels tried to rally as they found the back of the net early in the period to cut it the deficit to two. However after drawing an ejection the Seahawks used the man up scenario to their advantage as Tomlinson cashed in building the lead back to three. Again Iona answer with a score and again Wagner reciprocated with another score as Stacey Travous put up her fourth of the day on a proverbial alley-oop from McMichael to make it 10-7 headed to the fourth.

As for the final period it was all Wagner as they outscored the Gaels 3-2 including scores again from Maichrowicz and Tomlinson as well as a lob shot from Corrine Travous (New Ulm, MN/Cumberland Valley) that sealed the deal. Senior Katie Hauck (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) did the job in net halting 10 shots and adding two steals.

Next up for the Seahawks will be their fifth straight trip to the MAAC Tournament Championship game as they do battle with either Marist or Villanova at 2pm tomorrow.