March 9, 2009
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - It didn't start according to plan, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) made a resounding comeback to finish third at the ECAC Championships and post and 8-3 mark for the event. The record boosts the Lady Hawks to an overall mark of 106-35 on the season. Paula Vilas led the way, taking eighth place overall and posting an even 200 average.
It seemed that the Hawks would have a solid outing at the event as the 2008 NTCA Rookie of the Year, Kristina Frahm, won the singles title on day one. However it didn't turn into magic on day two as the UMES dropped their opening match to no. 6 New Jersey City University (NJCU) 956-907 and turned around to fall to St. Peter's College 984-923. Desperately needing to regroup, UMES did just that, winning their final four matches of the day, topping no. 8 Kutztown (939-860), no. 17 Adelphi (994-967), no. 19 St. Francis (976-907) and Long Island (893-553).
They got solid all around play from Vilas who posted four games of 200 or better, all coming in the last four wins. Her high was a 214 against Kutztown. She didn't do it alone of course. Frahm tallied 1,171 total pins for a 195.16 average over six games. She posted three games over 200 and had the highest Hawk game of the day with a 222 against Adelphi. She finished 13th overall.
Maria Rodriguez, who is the only bowler on the team still averaging a 200 or better this season posted a 190.5 average with a pinfall of 1,143 and two games over 200. She was 17th overall. Martha Perez was also solid with a tally of 1,088 pins and a pair of games over 200.
The Hawks took the momentum of the team games into the Baker game format where they went on to post three straight wins, including a 917-725 drubbing of no.2 Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) and a pair of wins over MEAC foes Hampton (846-638) and no. 14 Morgan State (840-715).
From there the bracket play to determine the champion began. UMES fell 4-0 in a best of four Baker game format to FDU. They quickly rebounded however to face NJCU again and while it took all seven game, the Hawks got the win 4-3 and with it the bronze in the championship event. The contest was so close that after a 1-1 tie, NJCU got a 205-204 win in game three before UMES sealed the win in game seen with a 184-183 edging of the host Gothic Knights.
No. 5 Delaware State topped FDU in the championship match for their first ECAC title.
