Women's Water Polo Defeats No. 16 UC San Diego 8-7

Pictured Above: Junior Lacey Anderson who registered a hat trick against Whittier College (photo credit: Jeremy Hawkes)

San Diego, CA – The Wagner women's water polo team extended its winning streak to three games after defeating No. 16 University of California San Diego 8-7 and Whittier College 14-7.

Wagner 8 UC San Diego 7

The Seahawks held off nationally-ranked No. 16 UC San Diego 8-7, marking the third time Wagner has defeated a higher ranked opponent this season. Senior goalie Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta / Dr. E.P. Scarlett) registered six saves despite a second half offensive surge by the Tritons.

Sophomore attack Erica Hardy (Montreal, Quebec / St. Thomas) paced the Green & White offensively with five points on three goals and two assists. The reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Week buried her first goal midway through the first quarter off an assist from junior attack Elise Begg (Newbury Park, CA / Newbury) who recorded a team-high three assists. Freshman attack Jacqui Sjogren (Queensland, Australia / St. Andrews Anglican College) netted the go-ahead goal for the Seahawks as the first quarter buzzer rang to take a 2-1 lead.

Wagner outscored the Tritons 4-1 in the second stanza behind early markers from sophomore attack Abby Irving (Brentwood Bay, B.C. / Canadian Sport School [Stelly's]) and junior utility Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec / John Rennie). Hardy ended the quarter with back-to-back goals less than a minute apart as the Seahawks controlled a 6-2 lead entering intermission.

San Diego held the Green & White scoreless in the third quarter before the two teams played an even final eight minutes, scoring two goals apiece. Watson and Sjogren each netted their second tallies of the tilt before the Tritons attempted a late comeback with two consecutive goals.

Wagner 14 Whittier 7
The Green & White opened the Aztec Invitational with a 14-7 triumph over the Whittier Poets behind hat tricks from juniors Lacey Anderson (Thousand Oaks, CA / Westlake) and Kimberly Watson as well as sophomore Abby Irving.

The Poets outscored Wagner 3-1 in the opening eight minutes before the Seahawks netted six unanswered goals to take the lead in the second stanza. Watson scored the lone tally for the Green & White in the first quarter off an assist from MAAC Offensive Player of the Week Erica Hardy.

Freshman Franciska Milo-Sidlo (Budapest, Hungary / Pasareti Gimnazium) ignited the 6-0 run early in the second period followed by markers from Watson and Anderson (2) to capture a 5-3 lead entering intermission.

Whittier ended Wagner's streak midway through the third quarter, taking advantage of a man-up opportunity with 4:28 remaining on the clock. However, Milo-Sidlo cashed in once again to begin another run for the Seahawks. Anderson registered her third goal before Irving buried the first of her three to complete the streak.

The Seahawks played an even fourth quarter with the Poets as each team scored three goals. Both Watson and Irving completed their hat tricks as Wagner breezed past first opponent of the weekend 14-7.

The Seahawks (8-9 overall) are set to face two more nationally ranked opponents tomorrow in No. 12 San Jose State University (9:15 am PST) and No. 23 California State University, Bakersfield (3:30 pm PST).

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