Poughkeepsie, NY – Wagner College Water Polo Team (16-12, 8-2 MAAC) fell 7-6 to third-seeded Marist College in the semifinals of the 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Tournament on Saturday. The second-seeded Seahawks held a 5-4 lead at halftime, but were outscored 3-1 in the second half as the Red Foxes escaped with the one-goal victory in their home pool.

An early Marist goal in the first period put the Red Foxes up early, but senior Nicole Maichrowicz (Temple City, CA/Temple City) was able to tie to score at 1-1 with her 30th marker of the season seconds later. Marist's offense continued their pressure – opening up a 3-1 lead with back-to-back scores.

Sophomore Natalie Pyrz (Harleysville, PA/Souderton) cut Wagner's deficit in half with score on a penalty shot minutes later, but Marist was able to regain their two-goal advantage with 3:22 remaining in the period.

Junior goalie Kelsey Rodgers (Anaheim Hills, CA/Anaheim Hills) made two diving stops to prevent the Seahawks from falling into an early hole, while freshman Sara Olguin (Whittier, CA/Sonora) tacked on Wagner's third score of the period on a breakaway to make the score 4-3 at end of the first. The goal was Olguin's 36th of the season.

An outstanding defensive effort from Rodgers helped the Seahawks shut out Marist in the second period. With less than two minutes remaining, Pyrz evened the score a 4-4 with her second goal of the game, coming off another penalty shot opportunity. There was just seconds left when freshman Chelsea Beck (Reading, PA/Wilson) found the back of the net for the Seahawks first lead of the game, 5-4. The score was Beck's 23rd of the year.

Marist returned the favor in the third period, holding the Green & White scoreless. Wagner's defense was equally impressive however, stopping the Red Foxes on two man-up opportunities. The lone goal of the period came with less than 30 seconds remaining when Marist's senior Katelin McCahill tied the score at 5-5 with her third goal of the contest.

Two big saves from Marist's junior goalie Jessica Getchius kept the scored deadlocked at 5-5 midway through the fourth quarter. There was three minutes left in the game when the Red Foxes slipped a 2M goal in the left side of the net to take the lead, 6-5. Another score with 1:40 on the clock put Marist ahead, 7-5. Maichrowicz found the back of the net for her second goal of the game with 45 seconds remaining, but the Red Foxes were able to kill the clock on their final possession for the win.

Rodgers was phenomenal in net for the Seahawks once again. She registered 15 saves in net, including five diving stops to keep Wagner within striking distance.

The Seahawks will take on fourth seeded St. Francis (NY) on Sunday in the MAAC Championship Consolation Round. Game time is scheduled for 12:00 PM.