Bakersfield, CA – The Wagner (10-4) women's water polo team bested CSU Bakersfield (11-10) 13-11 and Azusa Pacific 9-7 (7-9) in their fifth and sixth games of their California series. The Green & White improve to 4-2 on their west coast trip and 10-4 overall.

CSU Bakersfield (Score Sheet)

The Seahawks attack was hitting on all cylinders for the second straight contest as they poured in at least two goals in each quarter en route to defeating the Roadrunners in their home pool. Green & White points leader Jess Lundgren (Queensland, Australia/ Mountain Creek) got the ball rolling for the Seahawks as she assisted on the first two goals and scored on the third to give Wagner an early 3-0 lead. Senior co-captain Jessica Burdge (Stockton, CA/ St. Mary's) and junior attacker Megan Rodriguez (Danville, CA/ San Ramon Valley) delivered on the first two Lundgren passes in the first. A second score from Rodriguez on a man-up opportunity, set up from Burdge followed by CSU Bakersfield's first goal which cut the Seahawk deficit back to three, ended the first stanza at 4-1.

Freshman Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec/ John Rennie) and Rodriguez each found the back of the net early in the second quarter to increase the lead to five. Nicole Barrett of the Roadrunners responded with the home team's second score of the contest however junior Lily Doerfler (Annapolis, MD/ Broadneck) notched a goal for the Seahawks less than two minutes later to maintain the five goal lead. CSU Bakersfield caught fire towards the end of the second period as the Roadrunners rallied off three consecutive goals in less than one minute. Wagner held onto a slim 7-5 lead at the half as CSU Bakersfield was applying the pressure.

Momentum continued in CSU Bakersfield favor as they outscored the Seahawks three to two in third quarter. Burdge and Lundgren hit their mark for the Green & White in the third as each tallied a goal with the Seahawks clinging onto a 9-8 lead with only one quarter remaining.

The Roadrunners would come no closer as the Seahawk offense closed out the host's comeback bid. Rachel Burns (Auckland, New Zealand/ Diocesan) netted a goal after nearly four minutes of scoreless play to begin the fourth and final period. Lundgren scored on a beautiful steal and breakout goal followed by a strike from Watson off an assist from fellow freshman Elise Begg (Newbury Park, CA. Newbury) to give the Green & White a 12-9 lead. Two late scores from the Roadrunners and another goal from Watson ended the game at 13-11 in favor of Wagner.

Green & White goalie Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta/ Dr. E.P. Scarlett), fresh off a MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honor, saved six CSU Bakersfield shots in the game to help seal the victory for Wagner.

Goals
Jessica Burdge 3
Jess Lundgren 3
Megan Rodriguez 3
Kimberly Watson 2
Rachel Burns 1
Lily Doerfler 1
 
Azusa Pacific (Score Sheet)

The second contest of the game was tight from the swim-off to the buzzer as Wagner pulled out a hard fought 9-7 victory.

Burdge rattled the cage one minute and 45 seconds into the game off a touch pass from Lundgren as the Seahawk's struck first. The lead was short lived as the Cougars netted back-to-back scores before a late first quarter strike from Begg off a long pass from Riddle ripped pass the goalie with 0:00 left on the clock, tying the game at two.

Azusa Pacific edged a 3-2 goals advantage in the second after an evenly fought period. The teams exchanged scores as Doerfler and Rodriguez found the back of the net for the Green & White before the Cougars Taylor Whitney delivered on an even goal score with only 25 ticks remaining on the clock to give Azusa Pacific a 5-4 lead at the break.

The Seahawks found themselves in a two goal hole as the Cougars netted an early score to begin the third period. Up to the task, Burdge and Doerfler each tallied goals off assists from Lundgren as the game was deadlocked at six after three quarters.

Offensively the attack jumped on Azusa Pacific scoring the first three goals of the fourth stanza. Rodriguez, Lundgren and Burdge all ripped in goals to seal the victory for the Seahawks. The Cougars registered a late goal to bring the final to 9-7.

Riddle recorded five saves including a few big blocks in the contest.

Goals
Jessica Burdge 3
Lily Doerfler 2
Megan Rodriguez 2
Elise Begg 1
Jess Lundgren 1

History on the Horizon

*Head Coach Chris Radmonovich is 2 wins shy of reaching 100 career wins

*Junior Megan Rodriguez is 17 assists  away from being the Wagner All-Time Assist Leader

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