Dec. 8, 2002

Recap

Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002 - Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center Consolation Final: Queens College vs. UC San Diego

QUEENS COLLEGE POSTGAME QUOTES

Head Coach Derek Ellingson

On today's win: "It was a tiring game for both teams. I was expecting them (UCSD) to swim us a little more than they did. We had big-time goaltenders on both sides. (UCSD's Lance Onken) made some incredible blocks, skips that usually go didn't go today. That made us try even harder. We took some crazy shots that led to counter-attack goals late when we were tired. Overall, these guys stepped up when they needed to and that's all I have ever expected out of them this year. The seniors did a wonderful job. Everyone stepped up when they needed to and put the shot away."

On similarity to East Coast Athletic Conference championship vs. Navy: "Navy and UCSD are stikingly similar. They're both fast, have a lot of motion, and they have decent shots. I told the guys today, `Okay, we're playing Navy.' We did almost exactly the same thing as we did against Navy: letting them catch up and then going back to the lead, and hanging on to dear life at the end. It was about what it's been all year."

On strategy at end of the 4th after UCSD tied the score: "I put the starters back in at that point. I had three seniors in the starting group. So I put them back in, and I praise God that it was enough."

Senior Caner Erdogru

On representing the East in the final four: "We feel great. It feels like we came up big. All of our big wins this year have come in overtime. I guess we just did a great job. We played defense, like we didn't do yesterday. It's a great feeling, and I am exhausted right now. As a senior, that was my last game, and this year was great for me. Winning third place with these guys on this team and our coach has been great. I enjoyed every moment."

UC SAN DIEGO POSTGAME QUOTES

Head Coach Denny Harper

On UCSD's Loss: "We've played in a few third place games, but this one was tough. I told the team it wouldn't matter if we won or lost, but it obviously does, especially losing to an eastern representative team is a stinger. We're bummed out.

"We didn't convert many counter attacks. It's disappointing despite, in my opinion, the referee disfunction, we had a real chance to win. When you play great one man down defense, we should have won.

"If your team plays a really good defense, you should win. I'm very proud of this team's performance."

On the 4th Quarter comeback: "We had a good counter attack, a second wave of counter attacks. We took advantage of them."

Senior Lance Onken, goalie

On the 5th Quarter penalty shot goal: "We had them on the ropes. They threw up a prayer and got the roll."