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Maryland Edges Harvard 12-11 to Finish Seventh at 2010 Eastern Championship
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Simone Lewis (Fr., Auckland, New Zealand/Diocesan) notched a hat-trick to lead six University of Maryland scorers as the Terrapins edged Harvard University 12-11 in the seventh place game of the 2010 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championship at Maryland's Eppley Recreation Center.
It marks the second time Maryland has finished seventh under the leadership of head coach Carl Salyer as the Terrapins previously finished seventh (2007), sixth (2006), fourth (2008) and third (2009) at the Eastern Championship.
Maryland trailed three times in the contest, falling behind 4-3, 5-4 and 6-5 in the second period, as the Terrapins led or were tied for 29:57 of the 32 minutes of competition.
Trail 3-2 after the first period, Harvard went to work in tying the score as Patricia Smith (Jr., Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) lined an outside shot into the left front corner of the cage for a 3-3 tie with 7:43 left in the first half. The Crimson took the lead two minutes later on a five-meter penalty shot by Ita Barton-Kettleborough (So., Manchester, England/St. Bede's College) with 5:31 showing on the clock, but the Terrapins strolled back into the contest with a backhander from Elena Goldenberg (So., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) at point blank range with 4:58 left to even the damages at 4-4.
Harvard refused to remain tied for long as Lizzie Abbott (So., Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) lobbed a shot over the head of goalie Shelby Reyes (So., Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) to put the Crimson back in front at 5-4 with 4:04 left in the half. Maryland retied the game on an outside shot by Lewis at 3:34, but Harvard again retook the lead shen Smith cashed in on a power-play shot at 2:20 to make it 6-5.
However, the Terrapins picked up the speed of their scoring attack striking for a five-meter penalty shot by Ally Beck (Jr., Mission Viego, Calif./Santa Margarita) and consecutive natural goals on a drive and a counter by Lewis and Meghan Powers (Jr., Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) at 1:59, 1:01 and eight seconds, respectively, to carry an 8-6 lead into halftime.
Harvard's deficit grew to three goals 73 seconds into the third period when Shannon Simerly (Sr., Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) split the Crimson defense for a counter goal at the 6:47 mark to make it 9-6.
The Crimson pulled to within a pair of tallies by the end of the period at 10-8 and appeared primed to make a move in the fourth period.
Unfortunately for the Crimson, Maryland's offense reignited less than a minute into the fourth period when Christine Goetsch (So., Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcus) scored on a power-play with 6:08 left in regulation. Harvard pulled to within one at 11-10 next as Shannon Purcell (So., Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) struck for a natural goal on an outside shot at 4:53 and Devan Kennifer (So., Monterey, Calif./Santa Catalina) drove home a man-up tally at 4:27 to make it a game down the stretch.
Needing an offensive outburst to stave off the pressing Crimson attack, Lewis delivered the eventual game-winner courtesy a rebound off a field-blocked shot to make it 12-10 with 1:34 to play. Harvard attempted to rally back, but the Terrapins were able to limit the damage to a tally by Kristina Bergquist (Sr., Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) with two seconds left in the contest to hang on for the 12-11 victory.
In cage, Reyes finished with seven saves to earn the win for the Terrapins, while Shami Entenman (Jr., Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) picked up four stops in her first collegiate start.
In the modern history of the championship, Harvard's placement marks the third time in the last four years the Crimson have finished eighth in the championship field following eighth (2007, 2006), seventh (2009, 2002, 2001), sixth (2003), fifth (2005, 2004) and third (2000) place marks in the last decade.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -- | Final | |
| Harvard University | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | -- | 11 |
| University of Maryland | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | -- | 12 |
Maryland Goals: Simone Lewis (3); Ally Beck (2); Christine Goetsch (2); Elena Goldenberg (2); Shannon Simerly (2); Meghan Powers;
Harvard Goals: Devan Kennifer (3); Shannon Purcell (2); Patricia Smith (2); Ita Barton-Kettleborough; Lizzie Abbott; Kristina Bergquist; Elise Molnar
Saves: Maryland - Shelby Reyes (7) ; Harvard - Shami Entenman (4)
Exclusions: Maryland - 11 ; Harvard -13
Advantage Opportunities: Maryland - 5-for-13 ; Harvard - 5-for-11
Sprints: Maryland - 3-for-4 (1st, 3rd, 4th) ; Harvard - 1-for-4 (2nd)
Ita Barton-Kettleborough shoots & scores a five-meter penalty shot in the first half
