Score SheetSanta Barbara, CA – For the second consecutive season the #20 Wagner (3-2) women's water polo squad edged out #17 Long Beach State in a highly competitive contest. The Seahawks defeated the Beach 8-7 on the third and final day of the UCSB Winter Invite.
It was a season ago when the Green & White knocked off Long Beach State 5-3 for the programs first ever win over a top ten nationally ranked opponent.
In today's matchup the Seahawks offense jumped out early to take a 7-3 advantage midway through the third quarter. The lead proved to be enough to withstand a late surge from Long Beach State to preserve the 8-7 victory for Wagner.
The 49ers opened the match with a goal just over one minute into play by Tori Morrissey. The Seahawks responded in strong fashion, notching the final three goals of the period to hold a 3-1 advantage entering the second. Senior attacker
Megan Rodriguez (Danville, CA/ San Ramon Valley) tacked on a goal off a beautiful feed from freshman
Erica Hardy (Montreal, Quebec/ St. Thomas) on the man-up chance to start the 3-0 run. Senior center
Lily Doerfler (Annapolis, MD/ Broadneck) struck the back of the net while sophomore attacker
Lacey Anderson (Thousand Oaks, CA/ Westlake) scored off an assist from Rodriguez.
Long Beach State opened the second period just as they did the opening stanza with a quick score within the first minute. The Green & White answered as Rodriguez found
Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec/ John Rennie) for a goal with 3:55 remaining in the half. Each team's defense led the way the rest of the half as neither team seemed to muster many opportunities.
The Seahawks entered the third quarter holding onto a 4-2 lead which would balloon to 7-3, the largest lead of the game for either team, with 5 during the period. Rodriguez put home a smooth lefty shot to kick things off for the Green & White in the second half. Doerfler connected on a pass from Hardy while senior center
Jess Lundgren entered the scoring column off an assist from Anderson to give the Seahawks the four goal lead. The 49ers ended the third with a late goal from Morrissey, her second of the contest, as the scoreboard read 7-4 in favor of the Seahawks enter the fourth.
Long Beach State rattled the cage once again to cut the Green & White's lead to two. Lundgren, the reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Offensive Player of the Year, stepped up for the Seahawks and buried a five meter penalty shot with 2:33 left in the contest which would prove to be the game winner.
The 49ers would toss in two later goals however it wasn't enough to overcome the lead Wagner had built.
Junior goalie
Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta/ Dr. E.P. Scarlett) recorded four saves on the evening to anchor the Seahawk defense.
The Seahawks are back in action at 7:20 p.m. (EST) against #13 UC Santa Barbara.
The victory marks the teams first over a ranked opponent this season.
The win marked victory number 116 for head coach
Chris Radmonovich which ties him for first all-time in Wagner women's water polo history with Pat Beemer.
Wagner GoalsLily Doerfler 2
Jess Lundgren 2
Megan Rodriguez 2
Lacey Anderson 1
Kimberly Watson 1
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