George Washington University

April 5, 2004

PROVIDENCE, RI - The George Washington women's water polo team posted a 1-2 record Saturday and Sunday at the ECAC Championships at Brown University in Providence, RI. GW defeated 4th-seeded Harvard, 7-6, in overtime but lost to top-seeded Hartwick, 11-4, Saturday and lost to second-seeded Princeton, 14-3, Sunday.

The weekend started off with a rematch against 4th-seeded Harvard. In the first quarter, GW could not get its offense going and quickly fell behind, 2-0. The Colonials finally got on the board with a score from freshman Jenna Burnett (Lake Forest, CA/El Toro), but Harvard continued to put on the offensive pressure and scored two more goals. Before halftime, freshman Elizabeth Davis (Houston, TX/Clearlake) scored to bring cut the lead to two.

The third quarter turned out to be a defensive battle with neither team getting any good scoring opportunities until senior Elisabeth Schweitzer (Winter Park, FL/Hawaii) scored making it a 4-3 game in favor of Harvard. In the fourth period, GW's offense finally got going with three unanswered goals to take a 6-4 lead with only 50 seconds left in the game. Harvard rallied hard and scored a pair of goals to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Defense prevailed in the overtime period as neither team could get a good look at the cage. That would change however, with time expiring in the second overtime period when senior Vanessa Fravel (Coral Gables, FL/Gulliver Prep) scored the winning goal from set with only :03 left in the game.

In the semifinals GW faced the top-seeded and No. 14 Hartwick. The game was very physical as Hartwick would muscle its way to a 5-1 halftime lead. The second half would have the same result as GW was unable to stop Hartwick's potent offense and fell, 11-4.

The third-place game matched the Colonials with Princeton for their fourth meeting this season. Unlike the previous three games, Princeton took control right away with a commanding 5-1 lead at half and never looked back. The Tigers forced GW into a season-high 24 turnovers and went on to win, 14-3.

The Colonials next prepare for the CWPA Southern Regional Championships at Villanova on April 17-18.

1 2 3 4 5 6 =Total
GW 0 2 1 3 0 1 =7
Harvard 2 2 0 2 0 0 =6
GW Goals: Fravel 2, Burnett 2, Schweitzer, Shanley, Davis
Saves: Heinemann 6

1 2 3 4 =Total
GW 0 1 1 2 =4
Hartwick 3 2 4 2 =11
GW Goals: Fravel, Canon, Davis, Hooker
Saves: Heinemann 5

1 2 3 4 =Total
GW 0 1 2 0 =3
Princeton 2 3 6 3 =14
GW Goals: Hooker 2, Davis
Saves: Heinemann 7