New Rochelle, NY – The #20 Wagner (27-9, 12-0 MAAC) women's water polo squad defeated #25 Marist (15-17, 9-3 MAAC) 9-8 and St. Francis Brooklyn (6-24, 3-9 MAAC) 18-5, clinching the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season title. The two victories set the record for most wins in single history with 27.

Wagner 9 Marist 8 (Score Sheet)

It was Marist who got off to a quick start in the contest, delivering four goals in the opening period to Wagner's two. The Seahawks goals came from Sophomore Elise Begg (Newbury Park, CA/ Newbury) who recorded the first goal of the game as she scored on a man-up opportunity and senior Lily Doerfler (Annapolis, MD) who found the back of the net off an assist from sophomore Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec).

The Green & White defense suffocated the Red Foxes to only four goals the reminder of the contest anchored by junior goalkeeper Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta/ Dr. E.P. Scarlett). Riddle was key in net registering 12 saves for the game.

Wagner outscored Marist 3-0 in the second quarter with seniors Megan Rodriguez (Danville, CA/ San Ramon Valley) and Jess Lundgren (Queensland, Australia/ Mountain Creek) carrying the load in the period. Rodriguez scored two goals and dished out one assist with Lundgren striking one score and recording one assist. The Green & White entered halftime leading 5-4.

Each team would tally four goals in the second half as play wavered back and forth. Lundgren delivered the first goal of the half off an assist from freshman Erica Hardy (Montreal, Quebec/ St. Thomas). Marist would score three of the next four goals to even the game at 7-7 as Lundgren would find the back of the net once during the Red Foxes push.

In the fourth quarter Rodriguez hit home with 6:26 remaining in the final period of play to once again give the Seahawks the lead and a one goal advantage. It wouldn't be till the 2:06 mark that another goal was scored as Marist's Brooke Else scored to knot the game at 8-8. The Green & White would later take advantage of a man-up chance as Watson ripped the net off an assist from Lundgren with 1:30 left in the contest. The goal proved to be the game winner with Wagner taking the victory by a score of 9-8.

Wagner 18 St. Francis Brooklyn 5 (Score Sheet)

The Seahawks offense was off to a feverish start to the game totaling seven first quarter and 11 first half goals.

Rodriguez tallied three goals and four assists in the first half of action with Doerfler registering four goals and Lundgren recording three scores and two assists to lead the Wagner attack.
Hardy found the back of the net as well in the opening half as the Green & White took an 11-1 advantage into the locker room.

Wagner would outscore the Terriers 7-4 in the second half to secure an 18-5 victory and their 27th win of the year.

Lundgren totaled two more scores in the second half as Doerfler added one more tally to the scoring column. Begg and Irving each notched two goals in the half.

With nine assists in today's contests senior Megan Rodriguez broker her own school record of 105 assists in a single season as she now has totaled 114 on the year.

The Seahawks will be back in action April 30 in the MAAC Semifinals. 

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) and Instagram (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department and @Wagner_Polo for news and updates on the water polo program.