University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
St Francis Ny
Men's Water Polo Captures ECAC Championship
October 28, 2001 | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 28, 2001
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Senior Evan Lutz (Laguna Hills, Calif.) scored the game-winning goal with eight seconds remaining to cap a 9-8 comeback for the 13th-ranked University of Massachusetts men's water polo team over No. 19 St. Francis this afternoon in the championship game of the ECAC Championship, hosted by Harvard University. The Minutemen are now 24-3 on the season heading into next week's CWPA Northern Division Play-offs.
Trailing 8-6 after three quarters, the Minutemen mounted a fourth quarter comeback for the second consecutive week against St. Francis. Lutz's goal was the finale of three unanswered tallies that the Minutemen recorded in the final frame. Senior netminder J.R. VanderWall (Rockford, Mich.) made some big saves down the stretch to keep the Minutemen close. He finished with nine for the game and 22 during the tournament. Lutz continued his stellar defensive play this weekend.
Senior Mike Foley (Tustin, Calif.) led the Minutemen with three goals this afternoon. Junior Chad Arnold (Mohnton, Pa.) and senior Greg Trayer (Reading, Pa.) netted a pair of goals apiece. Senior Carlos Ramos (Anasco, Puerto Rico) notched three assists for the Minutemen.
In yesterday's action, UMass knocked off Bucknell, 12-4, and No. 16 Princeton, 8-4. Foley and Ramos led the squad with four goals apiece. Trayer and senior Adam Moore (Sinking Spring, Pa.) each netted three goals in the wins. UMass was able to avenge its 7-6, double overtime loss they suffered on Sept. 29.
The Minutemen are the second-seed at next week's CWPA Northern Division Play-off. They will play M.I.T on Friday, Nov. 2, at 8:15 p.m. and Connecticut College Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10:10 a.m. The remaining teams will then be re-seeded with tournament play continuing through Sun. Nov. 4. The top four teams will meet the top four from the southern division for the Eastern Championship Nov. 17-18.
