CAMBRIDGE, MA - Hartwick College's water polo team came up one game short at the CWPA Eastern Championships in Cambridge, MA on Sunday falling to #12 Michigan in the finals by a score of 12-6. It marks the second straight season the Wolverines have ended the 14th ranked Hawks' season and breaks up 'Wick's 10-game win streak. Michigan's win also avenges a 9-7 loss to Hartwick on Feb. 28.
Hartwick junior Kirsten Hudson (Wellington, New Zealand), sophomore Jessica McKee (Tustin, CA), and freshman Sian Ells-Tewhiu (Wellington, New Zealand) teamed up for all six of 'Wick's goals on the day. Ells-Tewhiu scored three times, Hudson added two goals and an assist, and McKee contributed one tally and an assist.
The Hawks, who were in search of their fourth CWPA Eastern title and subsequent NCAA Tournament berth in six seasons, jumped out to a 2-0 lead late in the first period of play. Ells-Tewhiu converted a 5-meter shot for the Hawks' second goal with just 42 seconds remaining. The Wolverines would finally get one past Jess Dorman (Auckland, New Zealand) on a 5-meter of their own 16 seconds later to cut the lead to one.
Michigan tied it five seconds into the second period on another penalty shot, and the Wolverines took a two-goal lead (4-2) with a pair of tallies 28 seconds apart later in the session. After Michigan made it 5-2, Hudson responded for Hartwick with 3:19 remaining to make it 5-3. Both teams traded exclusion goals with McKee picking up Hartwick's tally for a 6-4 Michigan lead at halftime.
In the third, two more Wolverine goals with 5:47 and 5:25 remaining extended the lead to 8-4 only to have Hudson and Ells-Tewhiu tally for the Hawks to cut the edge to two goals entering the final quarter. In the fourth, the Michigan defense held 'Wick scoreless while the Wolverine offense pumped in four goals to secure the title.
Dorman ended the match with 11 saves to become Hartwick's all-time leader with 807 stops. Ells-Tewhiu finished the tournament with a team-best 11 goals. Hudson had a hand in 17 goals in three games finishing play with nine goals and eight assists. McKee contributed seven goals at the championships.
The Hawks end the season with a record of 28-12. It marks the sixth straight season 'Wick has registered 28 wins or more.
CWPA Eastern Championship Finals
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Harvard University's Blodgett Pool
Cambridge, MA
#14 Hartwick 6
#12 Michigan 12
Score by periods:
Hartwick - 2-2-2-0=6
Michigan - 1-5-2-4=12
Hartwick scoring:
Sian Ells-Tewhiu - 3g
Kirsten Hudson - 2g, 1a
Jessica McKee - 1g, 1a
Hartwick goalkeeping:
Jess Dorman - 11 saves
