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Crimson Tide: Harvard Stuns Brown 7-6 OT in Northern Division
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- The Harvard University women's water polo team picked up its first Northern Division victory of the 2010 season in dramatic fashion as the Crimson defeated Brown University 7-6 in overtime at Blodgett Pool. The game occurred on a rescheduled date as it was postponed on April 7.
The win snaps Harvard's 11 match losing streak to the Bears and is the first victory over Brown since 2006. Harvard improves to 12-10 on the season overall and 1-1 in the CWPA Northern Division. Brown falls to 18-12 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
The Crimson trailed 2-1 after the opening quarter. Neither team could get more than a two-goal lead in the contest. The two squads were tied 4-4 entering the fourth quarter. Harvard jumped out to a two-goal advantage as Ita Barton-Kettleborough notched a man-up goal. Brown got two quick goals to knot the game at 6-6.
The Crimson buckled down on defense and came up with a couple of huge stops in the final minute as Harvard gained its composure and went for the win. The Crimson drew up a play to get the last shot of regulation. Patient ball movement lead to an opportunity with less than five seconds remaining. The ball got dropped into the center where Devan Kennifer managed to get off a sweep shot that ricocheted off the post, sending the game to bonus water polo.
In overtime, neither team could find the back of the net as both goalkeepers turned in stellar performances throughout the game. With 1:50 left in the second overtime period, Harvard drew a much-needed ejection. Monica Zdrojewski capitalized on the man-advantage, scoring what would prove to be the game-winning goal with just over a minute to play. The Crimson thwarted the Bears' attack to close out the game and earn its first Northern Division victory of the season.
Elise Molnar and Zdrojewski lead the way with a pair of goals each. Lizzie Abbott, Barton-Kettleborough and Kennifer all buried a marker in the win. Sophomore netminder Laurel McCarthy played a magnificent game between the pipes, turning aside six shots.
Harvard returns to action this weekend with a pair of Northern Division contests. The Crimson will host Hartwick, April 17, at Blodgett Pool. Harvard will take on Brown April 18 in a road contest to close out the regular season.
The result sets up a dramatic finish to the race for the two automatic Northern Division berths to the 2010 Women's Eastern Championship at the Unviersity of Maryland. One win by Hartwick puts the Hawks into the field. However, losses by the Hawks combined with a Brown victory over Harvard will force a three-way tie at 2-2 which will be broken by goal differential between the teams. In addition, if Hartwick wins one game, the Hawks automatically earn a berth to the Eastern Championship. But, two wins by Hartwick, combined with a Brown victory over Harvard, will tie the Bears and Crimson at 2-2 and force a tie-breaker on goal differential between the two teams. If Brown defeats Harvard by a goal, the goal differential in all Northern Division games, including the Bears and Crimson margins against Hartwick, will decide which program automatically makes the Eastern field and which one will wait for a decision by the Eastern Championship selection board in regards to two at-large berths to the eight-team field featuring the Northern, Western and Southern Divsions best teams.
