April 27, 2008

Box Score

Poughkeepsie, NY - Senior Amber McMichael (Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) netted three goals and dished out two assists to help the Wagner water polo team finish out their last game of the 2008 season on top of the Siena Saints 10-9 in the consolation game of the MAAC Tournament. With the win, the Seahawks close out the year an even 16-16 and 6-6 in MAAC play.

The Seahawks started hot in the beginning of the first with senior Camille Karimzad (Walnut Creek, CA/Campolindo) lighting the fire by scoring the first two goals of the game. Siena had their extinguishers ready and cooled the Green & White with three goals of their own and led at the end of the first quarter 3-2.

Juniors Nicole Maichrowicz (Temple City, CA/Temple City) and Alexandra Tomlinson (Telford, PA/Souderton) picked up where Karimzad left off as they paired up for one goal a piece to put Wagner back on top 4-3. But before the buzzer could sound to send the teams into the half, Siena scored one more time to notch up the game 4-4.

For the next 12 minutes of play, both teams exchanged goals until the score was 8-8 with 3:26 left in the game. This is when McMichael took matters into her own hands and scored her second and third goals of the game to put the Seahawks ahead once and for all. The Saints were able to put a desperation shot into the back of the cage with 46 seconds left in the game but were not able to overcome the strength of the Wagner defense.

McMichael's five points led the Seahawk scoring while Karimzad had a total of three goals and one assist on the day. Maichrowicz scored twice with Tomlinson scoring once and senior Billy Hoelck (San Diego, CA/University of San Diego) netting one and assisting on two scores.

After the game, Hoelck was named to the 2008 MAAC All-Tournament team for her efforts over the last two games. Her lone goal and two assists in the game against the Saints leaves her with 107 goals on the year and 373 goals and 113 assists for her career. All three of those marks are new program records.

McMichael moved from a key set up man last season by leading the team in assists to a true offensive threat this year. She still led the team in assists with 34 on the year, but McMichael put more away this season than she ever has and ended her year with 32 goals. She ends her career second all-time in assists with 100 assists and eighth all-time in goals with 74.

Karimzad ended her days with the Seahawks with her best offensive year of her career. Her 37 goals and 11 assists tower over her output last year and her presence as a team leader helped just as much out of the pool as her scoring did in the water. Her effororts throughout her career rank her ninth all-time in goals with 73.

Yvette Viramontes (Montebello, CA/Rio Hondo) and Lindsey Rodgers (Anaheim Hills, CA/Fullerton JC) came to Wagner as transfer students last year and provided the Seahawks with vital offense throughout the year. Viramontes ended the year with 23 goals and 21 assists while Rodgers' blazing speed was key to Wagner starting almost every quarter with possession.

It's now time for the lady Seahawks to settle down and close out the 2007-2008 academic year. Farewells are being said and memories are being shared. But be sure that the first round tournament loss won't be forgotten and that the Seahawks will in the hunt for the 2009 MAAC Championship next season.