April 6, 2008
Box Score
Poughkeepsie, NY - Senior Billy Hoelck's (San Diego, CA/University of San Diego HS) ten goal day helped the Wagner water polo team defeat the Iona Gaels 12-11 and the Villanova Wildcats 18-12. These two wins bring the Green & White to an even 12-12 on the season and a 2-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record.
In the first game against Iona, Wagner jumped to a 3-2 lead in the first quarter and extended the one goal gap between the Gaels to a three goal lead and went into halftime with an 8-5 score in favor of the Seahawks. Things slowed for the Green & White in the third as they were only to put one on the score board while Iona found the back of the net three times to cut the lead to 9-8. In the fourth, the Seahawks and Gaels matched each other's offensive efforts, netting three goals each and closing out the game with a 12-11 Wagner win.
Hoelck was lights out the entire game, scoring seven times while dishing out two assists. Her offensive output set new Seahawk season highs in both goals in a game and points in a game. Her goals were joined by senior Amber McMichael's (Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) two while senior Lindsey Rodgers (Anaheim Hills, CA/Fullerton JC) and freshmen Laura vanderBent (Shillington, PA/Mifflin) and Natalie Pyrz (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) each scored once.
vanderBent and senior Camille Karimzad (Walnut Creek, CA/Camplindo) were key factors in Hoelck's nine point game as they each drew 5 meter ejections in which Hoelck finished the job by putting away the penalty shots. Team leader in drawn ejections Nicole Maichrowicz (Temple City, CA/Temple City) also created an offensive advantage with four drawn ejections while Hoelck herself drew one ejection and one 5 meter.
Freshman goalie Kristen Spector (Camp Hill, PA/Cumberland Valley) stopped six saves in the win.
In game two against the Wildcats, the Seahawks started strong, netting four goals to Villanova's one in the first quarter. Things did not slow down in the second as Wagner notched five more goals though the Wildcats did figure out the Green & White's defensive strategy and netted six goals of their own to end the half with Wagner on top 9-7. The third quarter was not about to see things change for the Seahawk offense as they scored five times to Villanova's three. In the fourth, the Green & White added four more goals to the Wildcat's two, ending the game with a 18-12 win.
Karimzad was the lead scorer in this one, netting five goals on five shots. Hoelck kept the scoring alive with three goals while freshman Carina Giles (Mohton, PA/Mifflin) and McMichael kept the pace going with two goals. Rodgers, vanderBent, Pyrz, senior Yvette Viramontes (Montebello, CA/Rio Hondo) and junior Dru Murphy (Keller TX, Slippery Rock) each scored once to round out the scoring.
Spector went on to stone a career high 12 shots while Hoelck and freshmen Alexandra Melia (Henderson, NV/Coronado) and Dana DeCinque (Collegeville, PA/The Hill School) had three steals.
With these two wins, head coach Patrick Beemer notched his 75th career victory. Earlier in the season, Beemer helped the Seahawks to an 18-17 overtime win against Pomona-Pitzer, bringing Wagner its 100th win in program history.
Wagner returns to action Saturday, April 12th where they will take on conference rival Marist College at 1:00 PM and host Villanova University at 5:30 PM. All games will be played at Villanova University in the Villanova Swim Complex.
