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ILLINOIS WATER POLO |
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Tuesday - March 23, 2004 GAME RECAPS
St Ignatius Stuns Loyola in Overtime By Aaron Brown
Wilmette, IL -- Solid second half defense paved the way for #11 St. Ignatius to upset #7 Loyola 6-4 in two overtimes at UIC on Tuesday night. After trailing in the first half, Ignatius was able to tie the score at 3-3 in the third period. Loyola retook the advantage late in the third, but the Wolfpack responded to tie the game and send it into overtime, where they shut the Ramblers out.
Loyola controlled the tempo in the first half, jumping out to a 3-2 lead by halftime. They could have led by more, but Ignatius goalie Ann Carney, who had 15 saves, made an unbelievable play before the half to keep the Wolfpack within one. Trailing by one early in the second quarter, St. Ignatius two-meter defender Yadi Leon had a steal from Loyola's set Katie Sheehan. As Leon’s teammates took off for a counter-attack, Sheehan stole it right back and put two shots on Carney. She blocked both, but Sheehan picked up both rebounds and was able to pass cross-cage to an open teammate. Carney dove to the far side and made an incredible save to keep the Wolfpack close.
St. Ignatius (7-4, 3-1 MCAC) driver Meg Lenahan scored with 3:40 remaining in the third quarter after making a steal at the point and going coast-to-coast for an unassisted goal. However, Loyola (3-2, 2-2 MCAC) was able to respond on an uncontested shot by Megan Douaire from the left wing just thirty seconds later to make it 4-3.
Lenahan scored again on a breakaway after a steal early in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 4-4. Neither team would score again in regulation and they headed to overtime. Neither team was able to muster much of a threat in the first overtime period, as Ignatius had the only powerplay opportunity of the first overtime, but Principe was able to easily block an outside shot and corral the rebound.
The second overtime was a much different story, as Loyola's two-meter defender Lauren Bestvina received her third ejection of the game just twenty seconds into the period. Ignatius freshman Nora Kennelly scored her third goal of the game on a perfect feed from Kaitlin Kedzior to give Ignatius a 5-4 lead. Meredith Messerle sealed the victory for the Wolfpack with another goal to make it 6-4 with only 1:35 left in the final overtime period.
The win for the Wolfpack was their first ever in seven tries against arch-rival Loyola Academy. The two teams could meet again in two weeks at St. Ignatius’ Maroon & Gold Tournament, as well as in the MCAC Tournament at the end of the season.
Nora Kennelly led Ignatius with 3 goals and 9 steals. Meg Lenahan added 2 goals and 5 steals while Yadi Leon had an incredible game on defense, holding Loyola’s Katie Shehan scoreless. Ann Carney also had 14 saves for the Wolfpack. Jesse Miller, Lauren Bestvina, Magan Douaire and Megan Samluck each scored once for the Ramblers, while Liz Principe had 15 saves.
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