Staten Island, NY – The Wagner water polo team is gearing up for a trip to California where they will play 11 games in nine days against multiple Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) National Top-20 opponents.

The Seahawks (6-2), currently tied for 17th in the CWPA poll, begin their West Coast series with the Aggie Invitational hosted by UC Davis this weekend. The Green & White begin with a familiar adversary as head coach Chris Radmonovich served on the sidelines of the University of Pacific's coaching staff from 2004-2007. #14 Pacific (4-5) is the first of many ranked teams on the billing for Wagner as the two teams are set to square-off March 7 in the opening game of the tournament.

The Aggie Invitational will feature match-ups with fellow top-20 teams UC Davis (8-8) and UC Santa Barbara (9-11) on March 7 and 8 respectively. UC Davis stands at 10 in the CWPA poll while UC Santa Barbara has the honor of sharing the 17th ranking with the Seahawks.

The Golden State circuit doesn't ease as Wagner travels to Santa Clara, CA to play it's fourth straight ranked opponent, #19 Santa Clara (11-5) on March 9.

The Green & White's tour continues with matches against CSU Bakersfield (11-8), Azusa Pacific (7-8), and Whittier (6-2) on March 11 and 12 respectively.

San Diego will be the final stop on the trip as the Seahawks are set to partake in the Aztec Invitational hosted by San Diego State. On tap in the Aztec Invitational will be San Diego State (6-8), Hawaii (7-4), UC San Diego (8-12), and Whittier again.

March 14 is shaping up to be the strongest day of the trip and possible the season with Wagner competing against #12 San Diego State in the morning followed by #6 Hawaii in the evening.

March 15 the reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champions will hit the pool with #20 UC San Diego, an NCAA women's water polo quarterfinalist a season ago, and conclude with Whittier.

All told the Seahawks will compete with 10 teams in 11 games over a nine day span. Seven of the 10 opponents from the trip are currently ranked inside the CWPA top-20 poll while CSU-Bakersfield received votes and just missed the cut.

The trip will serve as a homecoming for seven members of the Seahawk roster: Lacey Anderson (Thousand Oaks, CA / Westlake), Elise Begg (Newbury Park, CA / Newbury), Jessica Burdge (Stockton, CA/ St. Mary's), Alexey Chandler (Sacramento, CA / Saint Francis), Michelle Greenough (Davis, CA/ Davis), Madison Lyon (Westlake Village, CA/ Westlake) and Megan Rodriguez (Danville, CA/ San Ramon Valley).

The Green & White are led on the offensive end by Burdge, Jess Lundgren (Queensland, Australia/ Mountain Creek), and Rodriguez. Senior attacker Jessica Burdge has tallied 13 goals on the season, 10th in the MAAC, highlighted by her six goal effort in a close 16-15 win over Hartwick. Junior center Lundgren is second in the MAAC in goals with 28 and third in points with 40. Junior attacker Rodriguez is second in the MAAC in assists with 21 and fifth in points with 31.

Defensively the squad is led by sophomore goalie Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta/ Dr. E.P. Scarlett) who garnered two MAAC defensive player of the week honors in February and has tallied 61 blocks thus far. 



History on the Horizon

*Head Coach Chris Radmonovich is 6 wins shy of reaching 100 career wins

*Junior Megan Rodriguez is 29 assists away from being the Wagner All-Time Assist Leader

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