Score SheetPrinceton, NJ – The #18 Wagner (25-9, 10-2 MAAC) women's water polo team dropped a 12-2 decision to #9 (T) Princeton (30-3, 9-1 CWPA) in this afternoon's NCAA Tournament Play-In game held at Princeton University.
The loss eliminates the back-to-back Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champions from the 2015 NCAA Women's Water Polo Tournament.
Princeton opened the game by winning the first sprint of the contest; however, it was short lived as Wagner's
Jess Lundgren (Queensland, Australia/ Mountain Creek) stole the ball to give the Seahawks possession. The Green & White moved the ball around until they found junior center
Lily Doerfler (Annapolis, MD/ Broadneck) in front of the net, who ripped a shot that was saved by Princeton goalie Ashleigh Johnson.
Princeton's immediate following possession resulted in a five meter penalty shot and score from Ashly Hatcher with 6:54 left in the opening stanza to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Princeton quickly struck again as Pippa Temple found the back of the net approximately a minute later to stretch the Tigers lead to 2-0.
Wagner responded with a nice possession that resulted in a one-on-one look for Doerfler, whose shot was blocked. Princeton attempted to counter, but a steal from Lundgren gave Wagner possession right back, in which the Seahawks couldn't capitalize.
Princeton worked the ball around and riffled a shot that was saved by sophomore goalie and MAAC Defensive Player of the Year
Emily Riddle (Edmonton. Alberta/ Dr. E.P. Scarlett) halfway through the period.
Wagner responded as Doerfler ripped a shot past the goalie; however, the strike rocked the cage and deflected the ball out of play. Riddle had a big block with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter, which was followed by a strong skip shot from Lundgren. The shot also knocked off the post, which was followed by a rebound shot that was saved. The Tigers' counter attack was successful as Chelsea Johnson tallied.
Princeton added two more goals before the end of the first quarter to bring the score to 5-0 in its favor.
The Seahawks opened the second with
Megan Rodriguez (Danville, CA/ San Ramon Valley), dumping the ball into Doerfler for a shot attempt, which was muffled by the defense.
The game began to move towards a more physical contest in the second quarter, as each side was throwing their weight around. Doerfler was excluded which led to a Princeton shot that bounced off the post to a wide open Emily Smith, who scored with 4:38 left in the second period. Less than a minute later, the Tigers Ashly Hatcher found the back of the net to bring the score to 7-0.
Princeton's Emily Smith took advantage of another power play and Taylor Dunstan found the back of the net to bring the score to 9-0. The Seahawks had an opportunity at the end of the half after a Princeton exclusion; however, Lundgren's shot went wide.
Princeton tallied earlier in the third before the Seahawks entered the scoring column off a fast break play on a man-up chance, resulting in Rodriguez dishing the ball to a streaking Lundgren, whose skip shot was successful.
The Tigers would score late in the third quarter and again in the fourth before Rodriguez sunk a smooth lefty shot after some quick ball movement to bring the final score to 12-2.
Riddle registered multiple big blocks on her way to recording eight saves.
Lundgren's third quarter tally set the Wagner water polo single season record for goals at 116. The goal moved her ahead of teammate
Jessica Burdge's (Stockton, CA/ St. Mary's) record of 115 goals in a single season from 2013.
Seahawk GoalsJess Lundgren 1
Megan Rodriguez 1
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