CAMBRIDGE, MA – The #20 ranked women's water polo team had a late lead against host Harvard but the Crimson would score a game-tying goal with 33 seconds in the fourth quarter and then net the game-winner in the overtime period as the Hawks fell by the score of 12-11 on Tuesday night.
The win marked the first for the Harvard women in 27 meetings with Hartwick dating back to the start of the Hawks program in 2001.
Sasha Freeborn (Auckland, New Zealand), Lily Martinez (Commerce, CA), Jemma Dendy Young (Cape Town, South Africa), and
Allison Kosich (Stockton, CA) all scored twice for Hartwick.
Lisa Bass (Montreal, Quebec),
Sami Capparelli (Miami, FL), and
Alyssa Analytis (Montreal, Quebec) each had one goal.
Aisha Price led the Crimson with four goals. Shannon Purcell and Elise Molnar both scored three times. Shayna Price and Devan Kennifer both scored once.
Hartwick was the first to get on the board in the contest, a score from Kosich, before Harvard quickly answered to make it 1-1. The Hawks scored two more times in the opening quarter, including once on a penalty shot, to gain a 3-1 advantage.
Harvard started the second quarter with two goals to tie the game at 3-all. The teams would trade goals before the Hawks scored the last two goals of the game to lead 7-5 at halftime.
The Hawks would add to their lead in the third quarter with goals by Martinez and Kosich and led 9-5 with 6:30 remaining in the quarter. Harvard would start to rally with three straight scores but 'Wick would get two back with goals of their own and led 11-8 heading into the fourth quarter.
The final stanza featured tough defensive play from both squads but the Crimson would score three times with the tying goal coming from Kennifer with just 33 seconds remaining.
Hartwick stepped up its defense in the first overtime as neither team would score. In the second overtime, Hartwick and Harvard traded possessions and shots before Purcell netted the winner with 44 seconds left.
Hartwick's record is now 23-10. They will next play Gannon in the CWPA Western Championships on Saturday in Bloomington, IN. Game time is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
