March 30, 2006

Staten Island, NY -- The Wagner College women's water polo team will take part in this weekend's ECAC Championships held at the University of Maryland. The tournament will include nine of the better teams on the east coast and the fourth seeded Seahawks have drawn the fifth seeded Brown Bears in the opening round on Saturday afternoon at 12:45 pm.

Wagner which boasts the nation's fourth highest scoring offense and fifth leading scorer in sophomore Billy Hoelck (San Diego, CA/U. of San Diego HS) currently stand at 14-10. They will take on a Bears team with a record of 4-9, losers of three out of their last five most recently to Santa Clara this past Wednesday by a tally of 5-2.

The two teams have shared six common opponents this season in Michigan, Hartwick, Bucknell, Indiana, Queens, and George Washington. Each squad lodged wins against Queens and George Washington while losing to the other four.

Wagner head coach Patrick Beemer looks at this final tuneup before MAAC play begins on April 7 as a great opportunity for the team. "The ECAC Championships really highlight the best teams on the East Coast. We are honored to have garnered the four seed in this tournament. Our ultimate goal is to continue and improve as our season hits the stretch run and this weekend gives us a chance to do just that" Beemer added.

Other potential opponents in the tournament which will conclude on Sunday include Princeton, Gannon, Bucknell, Maryland, Harvard, George Washington and MAAC foe Villanova.