Seahawks water polo team defeats Wilson, 10-9

PHS remains in third place in Western Division

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

The Peninsula Seahawks water polo team defeated the Wilson Rams 10-9 last Thursday to keep their hopes alive for the state tournament.

How they finish the rest of their season will determine where they are placed for the Western Division tournament.

Thursday’s game included two buzzer-beating shots — one from each team — at the end of the second and third quarters, respectively.

For Peninsula, it was the shot by senior Rianna Hawelmai with two ticks left on the clock that gave the Seahawks a two-goal lead going into the fourth quarter.

Wing player Amanda Brunswick had two goals in the game, including a fourth-quarter score that put the Seahawks in good position to win.

But it was last-second goal by Hawelmai that proved to be the difference-maker as the Seahawks let the Rams back into the game extremely late in the fourth.

“We really wanted this game,” Brunswick said. “Our team worked really hard.”

Brunswick added that Peninsula’s passes and drives have improved due to hard work during spring break practice.

“We’ve benefited working hard in practice, and it showed in the game,” she said.

The Seahawks took their biggest lead of the game when Hawelmai performed a spin move and threw the ball into the net. Senior striker Milissa Burkey followed — and created a three-point lead — but Wilson scored three goals in less than a minute to give the Seahawks a last-minute scare.

The game nearly went into sudden-death overtime.

Burkey wasn’t happy with the finish, but she acknowledged that a win is a win, no matter how you look at it.

“Our heads were in this game,” she said. “We capitalized on a lot of things.”

While she said the team started off rocky — Wilson had an early lead — the Seahawks kept their composure and used some of their speed to break the game open.

Burkey scored the last goal of the first half to give the Seahawks momentum.

Peninsula coach Ashley Killoran said they played well.

“We were focused in spring break with ball movement,” Killoran said. “There’s just a point in the season where things start coming together, and the girls started clicking.”

The victory kept the Seahawks (6-2) in third place in the Western Division. Their two losses came against the Curtis Vikings and the Gig Harbor Tides.

The Seahawks will host the Tides later this month.

Killoran said beating Wilson will help their confidence for the second Peninsula-Gig Harbor contest.

“It means even more,” Killoran said. “Every game builds or takes away confidence. ... It’s more of a psychological thing.”

Prior to playing Gig Harbor, Peninsula will have to face Curtis and the Stadium Tigers.

“You only learn how to play better by losing to good teams,” Killoran said. “Next time (against Gig Harbor), we’ll come on strong and know what to expect.”

Reach Sports Editor Marques Hunter at 253-853-9243 or marques.hunter@gateline.com.