Thousand Oaks, CA – A furious fourth quarter offensive surge helped the Wagner Water Polo Team (5-8) cut a late eight-point deficit to three, but ultimately left the Seahawks short of upsetting #16 University of Pacific. The 14-11 loss ends Wagner's first day in the Cal. Lutheran Spring Classic after defeating Cal. State Montery Bay earlier in the day.
“The team showed a lot of growth and character by getting a top 20 school on the ropes and scrambling,” noted Wagner head coach Pat Beemer. “There's no quitting in this team.”
The first half did not go so well for the Seahawks after allowing the Tigers to find the back of the net five times in the first quarter and four times in the second. The Seahawks could only put together a goal in each of those quarters to find themselves down 9-2 going into halftime.
Things evened out in the third stanza of play, though Pacific gained another goal on Wagner, scoring four times to the Seahawks three. With the game seemingly decided and Wager in an eight-point hole, the Seahawks sparked an offensive onslaught against the Tigers' defense, scoring six goals to Pacific's one. But the Pacific lead was too great to overcome with Wagner falling to a nationally ranked team for the fourth time this season.
Natalie Pyrz (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) and Laura Vanderbent (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) topped 50 career goals as the juniors each netted a pair of goals.
Sophomores Chelsea Beck (Reading, PA/Wilson), Molly Robinson (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) and Becca Hannings (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) also had two goals in the contest with junior Carina Giles (Mohton, PA/Governor Mifflin) chipping in one goal.
Reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week Kelsey Rodgers (Anaheim Hills, CA/Fullerton JC) blocked eight shots in the game. The senior saved 28 total shots on the day and is 16 saves short of 500 in her brief career with the Seahawks.
Wagner is back in action on Sunday, March 7 in their closing day of competition in the Cal. Lutheran Spring Classic. The Seahawks begin the day against host Cal. Lutheran at 11:30 AM EST, followed by a 3:15 PM EST match against Whittier College.
