Wagner/Siena Box
Wagner/Iona Box

Philadelphia, PA - The Wagner Water Polo team has improved to 14-10 and 2-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play after defeating conference foe Siena, 16-4, and taking down Iona 13-12 in overtime.

Wagner vs Siena

Wagner started hot, scoring four first quarter goals and only allowing one from the Saints. The four goals were scored by four different players, with one of the goals along with two assists coming from Megan Rodriguez (Danville, CA / San Ramon Valley).

Jessica Burdge (Stockton, CA / St. Mary's) started the second quarter adding her second and third goals of the game, off of assists by Rachel Burns (Auckland, New Zealand / Diocesan) and Gabryel Oloapu (Auckland, New Zealand / Diocesan). Rodriguez, Oloapu, and Stacy McGregor (Sinking Spring, PA / Wilson) also added goals in the second, putting the Seahawks on top 9-2 heading into halftime.

The Wagner defense kept Siena off the board in the third quarter, while the Seahawks scored three times in the period. Rodriguez added her third goal in the quarter, while Jess Lundgren (Queensland, Australia / Mountain Creek) and Oloapu each scored their second goal of the frame.

Taking a 12-2 lead into the fourth quarter, Wagner put the game away with four more goals in the fourth, while Siena got on the board twice.

Freshman Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta / Dr. E.P. Scarlett) finished the game with five saves and one assist, while classmate Aspen Trautz (Lansdale, PA / North Penn) also saw time at goalie, stopping one shot from the Saints.

Wagner vs Iona

A back and forth clash between the two teams who have battled for the MAAC Championship the past two seasons was expected and delivered in the second game of the day.

Wagner held the lead over Iona after the first quarter 3-2 and stayed strong taking a 6-4 advantage into the half. After Lundgren and Lily Doerfler (Annapolis, MD / Broadneck) scored two goals each in the third quarter, the Seahawks looked as though they had it wrapped up, leading 10-5 going into the fourth quarter.

The Gaels would not go down without a fight, scoring three goals in less than a minute in a half at the beginning of the fourth, to make the score 10-8. Burns found Lundgren for a Seahawk score to make it 11-8 with 3:14 left in regulation, but Iona would not go away, scoring twice over the next minute to make it 11-10 with two minutes remaining.

With time winding down, the 2013 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Amy Olsen found the net with :01 left on the clock, evening the score to 11-11, and forcing overtime.

In the first of two three-minute periods, Lundgren found Burdge for a man-up goal, giving Wagner a 12-11 lead heading into the second extra session. Lundgren was at it again, scoring another goal in the second overtime period, giving Wagner a 13-11 lead with :44 seconds remaining. Iona was able to score once with :25 seconds left, but it would not be enough as the Seahawks prevailed for the 13-12 victory.

For the game, Lundgren finished with five goals, two assists, 10 steals, and five drawn exclusions. Riddle helped out on the defensive end, saving eight shots.

The Seahawks are back in action next Sunday, March 30th, as Wagner will take on St. Francis Brooklyn and Marist in Poughkeepsie, NY.

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