Pictured Above: Sophomore Kimberly Watson

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2016 Wagner Water Polo MACC Interview

Poughkeepsie, NY – The #19 Wagner women's water polo team defeated Villanova 11-2 in the opening Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinal game at the McCann Natatorium on the campus of Marist College this afternoon, in advancing to the title game for the sixth consecutive season.

The Seahawks will meet Marist in the MAAC Championship game for the third consecutive year tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.

With the win, the Seahawks improve to 28-9 on the season (12-0 MAAC) while the Wildcats end their season at 16-17 (6-6 MAAC). Wagner has now reached the MAAC championship game in all six years under Chris Radmonovich, who was named 2016 MAAC Coach of the Year last night.

The #1 seed Wagner and #4 seed Villanova squared off for the third time this reason as the Seahawks have now come away victorious in all three matchups and are currently undefeated in MAAC play.

Wagner rushed the opening sprint, won the ball and found the back of the net when sophomore Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec / John Rennie) registered the first goal of the contest one minute into the game. Senior attacker Megan Rodriguez (Danville, CA / San Ramon Valley) was credited with the assist on the Watson goal.

Villanova responded just 28 seconds later when Naomi Ng scored to tie the game, 1-1. The 2016 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, senior Jess Lundgren (Queensland, Australia / Mountain Creek), then put one past the Villanova goalie with a minute left in the first quarter as Wagner regained a 2-1 lead heading into the second.

Each side struggled to find an offensive flow in the second quarter as strong defense took over. Lundgren netted one just 15 seconds into the second period off an assist from sophomore attack Elise Begg (Newbury Park, CA / Newbury). Sophomore attack Lacey Anderson (Thousand Oaks, CA / Westlake) then sunk one on a man-up opportunity to increase the lead to 4-1 at the half.

Wagner's offense erupted in the second half, totaling seven goals while the Seahawk defense held the Wildcats to just one goal late in the fourth.

Lundgren opened the second-half scoring back-to-back goals. Anderson drew a foul and was granted a penalty shot which Lundgren took and rocketed to the back right-corner of the net. Less than a minute later, Lundgren was wide open and netted her fourth marker of the day, in extending the Wagner lead to 6-1.

Begg found a wide open Watson with 1:38 left in the third and Watson notched her second goal of the game. Watson didn't stop there however, just 27 seconds later Anderson found Watson again and she sunk one for a hat trick and put Wagner up 8-1 after the third.

Wagner kept the scoring going in the final quarter, putting up another three goals. The first goal of the quarter from Rodriguez to Anderson for her second goal of the day. Lundgren created a nice play with a pass to Watson, who netted her fourth goal of the game. Lundgren then recorded a steal and took the ball down and scored for her fifth goal of the game and give Wagner an 11-1 lead.

Villanova notched a goal by Dominque Clark with 3:46 remaining in the contest before Wagner defeated the Wild Cats by a final count of 11-2.

Junior goalie Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta / Dr. E.P. Scarlett) had three blocks in the contest with one steal. Watson was a perfect 4-for-4 in sprints with four goals and four steals. Anderson led the Seahawks with five steals.

Statistics
Kimberly Watson – 4 goals, 4 steals, 4 sprints won
Jess Lundgren – 5 goals, 2 steals, 1 assist
Lacey Anderson – 2 goals, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
Erica Hardy – 5 steals, 2 blocks, 1 assist

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