Wagner/Marist Box ScoreBloomington, IN – The Wagner water polo team opened the 2015 campaign with a rematch of last year's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship game, vs. Marist at the Indiana Invitational, and once again, the Seahawks were victorious, defeating the Red Foxes by a count of 9-5.
The game, which was expected to be a tight contest as Marist was tabbed as the preseason MAAC favorites, with the Green & White slotted second in the coaches poll, lived up to it's advance billing.
Junior center
Jess Lundgren (Queensland, Australia/ Mountain Creek), the reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and 2015 Preseason MAAC player of the Year, scored the Seahawks' season-opening goal, staking Wagner to an early 1-0 lead. Senior co-captain
Jessica Burdge (Stockton, CA/ St. Mary's) then netted the next two goals of the contest to give Green & White a 3-0 lead after one quarter.
The second quarter went back and forth, with Marist recording three goals and Wagner registering two. Lundgren tallied a second goal while junior lefty
Megan Rodriguez (Danville, CA/ San Ramon Valley) netted her first of the year, as the Seahawks took a 5-3 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, the Green & White took full control of the game, reeling off four unanswered goals, making it a 5-0 overall run, in seizing a commanding 9-3 lead. Rodriguez added her second goal of the game while senior co-captain
Rachel Burns (Auckland, New Zealand/ Diocesan) joined the scoring column with a goal herself. Lundgren's finishing ability flashed again as the junior converted two goals in the third to put the Seahawks in the driver's seat.
Marist netted two goals in the fourth quarter to narrow the gap, but would come no closer as Wagner's defense held strong.
The Seahawks had four players that tallied two assists each including freshman
Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec/ John Rennie) who had an impressive start to her rookie season.
Lundgren finished with a team-high four goals on the day and sophomore goalie
Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta/ Dr. E.P. Scarlett) put together a strong performance to give the Green & White the four-goal win.
The Seahawks will be back in action tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. when they meet No. 9 Indiana.
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