Women's Water Polo

Wick Drops Brown in Eastern Opener

ANN ARBOR, MICH - Kirsten Hudson (Wellington, New Zealand) netted six goals and dished off four assists to lead second seeded and 14th-ranked Hartwick over the seventh seed and #20 Brown 15-8 in the opening round of the CWPA Eastern Championships, Friday afternoon at the University of Michigan's Canham Natatorium.

It was Hartwick's third victory over the Bears in two weeks. The Hawks, who improved 27-10 overall, led from start to finish. Hartwick opened scoring 20 seconds into the first quarter as Hudson connected with her first of the afternoon. At 6:04, the Hawks upped their advantage to 2-0 as Hudson fed Ellen Sevigny (Mount Desert, Maine) for the first of her two goals. After Brown got on the board to shave the deficit to 2-1, Megan Dahl-Smith (Montreal, Quebec) recorded the first of her two goals with 4:24 left in the opening frame. Up 3-2, Hartwick finished scoring in the first quarter as Dahl-Smith registered her 50th score of the year from Kaitlin Leonard (Montreal, Quebec). Hartwick stretched the lead to 10-3 at intermission by outscoring the Bears 6-1 in the second quarter. Hudson capitalized on three scores, including a successful five-meter shot at 7:45 and then posting a steal and taking it in uncontested with 6:23 left in the period to give the Hawks a 7-2 lead. The sophomore returned to the scoring column at the 4:43 mark and then set up Jessica McKee (Tustin, Calif.) on a man advantage at 3:29. It was the freshman's 50th goal on the year. Lisa Gibson (Beaverton, Ore.) finished the scoring for the Hawks with 1:36 left off a pass inside from Hudson.

The Bears outscored the Hawks 4-3 in the third quarter and pulled within 12-7 on a goal with 2:17 left. However, Hudson drilled her sixth of the game from 12-meters out with one second left to end a 4-0 run for the Bears.

After Brown opened scoring 25 seconds in the fourth and final quarter, McKee converted a man-up opportunity with 5:18 left and then Sevigny closed scoring with 2:51 remaining.

Jessica Dorman (Auckland, New Zealand), who ranks second in the nation in goalie saves, stopped nine Bear shots in the victory.

Hartwick advances to the semifinals of the tournament and will play sixth seed Maryland , who upset third-seeded and 17th-ranked Indiana 13-11. It will mark the second time this year the two will meet. Hartwick edged the Terrapins 17-16 in overtime Mar. 2 in College Park, Md.

#14 HARTWICK 15, #20 BROWN 8

Hartwick 4 6 3 2 15
Brown 2 1 4 1 8

HARTWICK GOALS: Kirsten Hudson 6 (92,93,94,95,96,97); Megan Dahl-Smith 3 (49,50,51); Jessica McKee 2 (50,51); Ellen Sevigny 2 (62,63); Kaitlin Leonard 1 (42); Lisa Gibson 1 (21).

HARTWICK SAVES: Jessica Dorman - 9