Terps Capture ECAC Title
2/27/2011 7:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Feb. 27, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Ally Beck and Elina Goldenberg scored three goals apiece helping power the Maryland water polo team to a hard-fought 12-11 victory over Iona Sunday in the finals of the ECAC Championship.
The fifth-seeded Terps (5-4) trailed most of the game against the seventh-seeded Gaels before rallying in the fourth quarter for their first-ever title in the annual eight-team event.
Maryland's Simone Lewis tied the game at 11-all with a goal early in the fourth period and Goldenberg scored the game winner with 3:23 left in the game.
"We were on our heels," Maryland head coach Carl Salyer said. "Iona really played tough and got us off our game, but we hung in there and kept playing."
Maryland, which had to knock off two higher seeds to reach the finals, got contributions throughout the roster.
Meghan Powers had two goals while Christine Goetsch, Allison Campbell and Katie Ermakova scored one each for the Terps who have won their last four games.
"We stayed within a goal or two the whole game and we finally shored up our defense in the fourth quarter," Salyer said.
Shelby Reyes went the distance in net for Maryland, posted nine saves and holding Iona scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Beck earned tournament MVP honors after scoring 10 goals over the three games. The senior had three goals in Saturday's 11-10 upset win over top-seeded Princeton and four in the opening-round victory over No. 4 seed Marist earlier in the day.
Maggie Wood scored a game-high four goals for the Gaels (5-3)
The Terps are back in action Friday when they play at George Washington. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
ECAC Championship - Day Two Results
Sunday, Feb. 27Kinney Natatorium
No. 5 Maryland 12, No. 7 Iona 11
Championship Game
1st 2nd 3rd 4th F Iona (5-3) 4 2 5 0 11 Maryland (5-4) 2 3 5 2 12Iona Goals: Wood (4), Leonard (2), Olsen (2), Mone (2), Turza
Maryland Goals: Beck (3), Goldenberg (3), Powers (2), Goetsch, Lewis, Campbell, Ermakova
