Villanova, PA – The Wagner College water polo team split day one of Metro Atlantic Athletic Competition (MAAC) competition at Villanova University as they topped the Keydets of Virginia Military Institute 16-1 before falling in overtime 8-7 to Marist.

Wagner vs. VMI

Senior co-captain Lauren French (Colmar, PA / North Penn) became the fifth Seahawk in program history to reach the 200-goal milestone in the 16-1 win over VMI.  French joins fellow co-captain Chelsea Beck (Reading, PA / Wilson), Billy Hoelck (343), Stacey Travous (230) and Courtney Crase (200) on the 200-goal list.

Starting up 10-0 after the first quarter, Wagner's ten-goal lead was a result of a valiant effort by four Seahawks.  Initiating the scoring run, French hit three goals in a row followed by back-to-back goals by freshman Rachel Burns (Greenelane, Auckland, New Zealand / Diocesan School for Girls).   French continued the trend by knocking in another before sophomore Sidney Hoshko (Coronado, CA / Coronado) added two more to the Seahawk's tally.

Freshman duo Michelle Greenough (Davis, CA / Davis) and Madeleine Brown (Sacramento, CA / Rio Americano) teamed up in the second quarter as Greenough fed Brown a crisp pass for the ninth Seahawk goal.  Brown then returned the favor as she found Greenough open in front of the net and Greenough sent the shot home.

Leading 10-0 at the beginning of the third period, French hit her fifth goal of the game off an assist from Leslie Poole (Downey, CA / Warren).  Sophomore Maura McGinley (King of Prussia, PA / Upper Merion) sent another shot into the net to increase the Seahawk lead to 12.  Poole then registered her second assist of the match as found senior Molly Robinson (Lansdale, PA / North Penn) open in the corner before the sophomore knocked in one of her own.

With 14-0 lead at the start of the final eight minutes, sophomore Tatum Colitz (Wyomissing, PA / Wilson) recorded her first goal of the season on a man-up opportunity caused by junior Katie Jordan (Westlake Village, CA / Agoura).  Rounding out the scoring for the Seahawks, junior Monique Martinet (Mission Viejo, CA / Mission Viejo) knocked in her first goal of the season.

The Keydets recorded one goal in the fourth quarter as junior Laura Karbach  (Abington, PA / Germantown Academy) recorded 4 blocks and 2 steal.  Senior goalkeeper Lauren Lovallo (Old Greenwich, CT / Greenwich) registered 2 saves.

Wagner vs. Marist

The second game of the day was a nail-biting overtime match with the Red Foxes.  After tying the game at 7-7, the Seahawks were unable to capitalize in overtime and Marist squeezed a shot past the Wagner defense to secure the victory.

In first quarter, Wagner started the game 3-2 after goals from Beck and fellow senior Becca Hannings (Lansdale, PA / North Penn).

The Seahawks held the Red Foxes scoreless in the second period as Beck knocked in back-to-back goals to set the score at 4-3 in favor of the Green & White.

After the break, the Red Foxes put three past the Wagner defense while the Seahawks sent two into the net from goals from French and Hannings to set the score at 6-6 headed into the final eight minutes.
Allowing only one Marist goal in fourth, the Seahawks sent the game into overtime off a French goal to fashion the score at 7-7 to send the game into overtime.

Holding strong on defense in the first overtime period, the Seahawks were unable to force a second overtime period as the Red Foxes hit a last second overtime shot to secure the 8-7 overtime victory.

The Seahawks return to action on Sunday, April 15 when they face the Gaels of Iona College in the final regular season match of the season.  If the Seahawks beat the Gaels by a two point margin, they will capture the top seed for the MAAC Tournament.