Women's Water Polo | 1/31/2016 5:28:00 PM

ANN ARBOR, MI – The 17^th ranked Hartwick water polo team suffered another close loss to a nationally ranked opponent, but rebounded by winning its first of the season Sunday at the University of Michigan Invite. The Hawks started the day with a 14-12 setback to No. 12 University of the Pacific. They then came from behind to defeat No. 24 Marist 12-9.
           
Nikolina Mihajlovik (Mississauga, ONT/Silverthorn Collegiate Institute) was on fire for the Hawks in the opener as she found the net eight times against the Tigers. She would miss a program record for goals in a game by just one tally.
           
The first quarter was high-scoring as the two teams combined for nine goals. The Tigers took five one-goal leads in the period with the Hawks evening things four times. Mihajlovik scored a trio of goals in the quarter.
           
In the second quarter, the Tigers scored three of the first four goals to open up a three-goal lead. It was extended to four, 11-7, at the close of the half.
           
Mihajlovik tallied Hartwick's fourth straight goal with 2:49 left in the third to cut the deficit to two, 11-9. The Tigers answered 54 seconds later to extend their lead to three heading into the final quarter.
             
Lauren Brennan's (Canberra, Australia/St. Clares College) second goal of the game at 7:43, and Mihajlovik's eighth 56 ticks later on a 5-meter, made it a one-goal game, 12-11. After UP got one more, Zsofia Polak (Dunaujvaros, Hungary/Rudas HS) tallied at 3:11 to pull within one again, 13-12. But 31 seconds after, the Tigers scored the game's final goal. 'Wick had three more shots, including a Katie McKenty (Auckland, New Zealand/Takapuna Grammar School) effort which hit the post, but none found the net.
           
Michaela Davies (Cronulla, Australia/Kirawee HS) and Josette Santos (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison HS) combined to make 11 saves in the game. Santos stopped eight shots and made two steals. Davies     stopped three UP shots. 
           
Against the Red Foxes, the Hawks fell behind 3-1 in the opening quarter. In the second quarter, goals from Brennan and L.J. Edwards (Enchinitas, CA/Cathedral Catholic) evened the score at 4-4 at half time.
           
Two early goals in the third quarter gave Marist a 6-4 edge, but the Hawks responded with six of the next seven goals to take command. Mihajlovik scored three goals, Polak added two, and Brennan put 'Wick in front 10-7 with 4:39 left in the fourth period.
           
Marist got one back but Mihajlovik countered with her fourth of the game 12 seconds later. Edwards' third goal of the contest made the margin four, 12-8, and sealed the win with 2:26 to go.
           
Mihajlovik finished the game with four goals and she ended the day with 12. Edwards and Brennan each scored a trio of goals in the game and Polak finished with two. Davies would stop eight shots to go along with one steal.
           
The Hawks are off until next Saturday when they compete at the two-day Brown Invite in Providence, RI. They open with the host Bears on February 6 at 11:20 a.m.