Women's Water Polo Extends Its Conference Record To 5-0

Pictured Above: Junior Kimberly Watson who recorded her 144th career goal (photo credit: Stockton Photo)

Loudonville, NY – The Wagner women's water polo team completed its sweep of its upstate New York trip with victories over Villanova and St. Francis Brooklyn. After defeating Villanova, 17-5 and St. Francis, 19-5, the Seahawks are now 5-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) standings.

Additionally, junior Kimberly Watson's (Pointe-Claire, Quebec / John Rennie) six goals on the day puts her tied for tenth place on Wagner's All-Time Scoring list with 144 career goals.

Wagner 17 Villanova 5
The Green & White buried Villanova University 17-5 in the first meeting of the season to secure its fourth consecutive victory. Sophomore attack Erica Hardy (Montreal, Quebec / St. Thomas) led the Seahawks offensively for the second straight game with eight points on five goals and three assists.

The Wildcats played a competitive opening stanza, scoring four goals to Wagner's five. Hardy logged the first tally only 30 seconds into the contest off an assist from junior attack Lacey Anderson (Thousand Oaks, CA / Westlake). Villanova tied the matchup before junior attack Elise Begg (Newbury, CA / Newbury) shot the first of her three first quarter markers. Begg netted the go-ahead goal with 16 seconds remaining on the clock as the Seahawks controlled a 5-4 lead.

Senior goalie Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta / Dr. E.P. Scarlett) held the Wildcats scoreless in the second and third quarters as the Green & White extended its lead on a 12-0 run. Hardy registered four of Wagner's five tallies in the second stanza before freshman attack Jacqui Sjogren (Queensland, Australia / St. Andrews Anglican College) put one away for the Seahawks who entered intermission with a 10-4 lead.

The freshman trio of Franciska Milo-Sidlo (Budapest, Hungary / Pasareti Gimnazium), Millie Pullyblank (Victoria, Australia / Haileybury Girls College), and Sjogren controlled the Seahawk's offense in the third quarter, combining for a total four markers to extend their lead 14-4.

Pullyblank completed her first hat trick since Harvard on February 4 in the final eight minutes while Anderson and senior attack Amanda Sutherland (Denton, TX / Denton Ryan) netted two additional goals. The Wildcats scored one final time before the buzzer as the Green & White handed them their third consecutive loss.

Wagner 19 St. Francis 5
Junior utility Kimberly Watson and freshman center Millie Pullyblank propelled the Seahawks past St. Francis 17-5, netting five goals apiece in the weekend finale.

Watson's first strike came on a penalty shot less than 30 seconds into the matchup to ignite a 4-0 run for the Green & White. Sophomore attack Erica Hardy and freshman attack Jacqui Sjogren each took advantage of power play opportunities before the Terriers scored their first marker with three minutes remaining in the stanza. Pullyblank registered a hat trick before the first quarter's end as the Seahawks led 8-1.

Once again, senior goalkeeper Emily Riddle held the Terriers to just one goal in the second stanza, while Wagner's offense logged five more to extend its lead 13-2 entering the second half.

Junior goalie Anna Ward (Grayslake, IL / Mundelein) replaced Riddle in the cage after intermission, allowing St. Francis to tally two strikes, while blocking five. Meanwhile, the Seahawks added four markers from Pullyblank (2), Sjogren, and Watson to enter the final eight minutes with a 17-4 advantage.

Watson opened the final quarter with her fifth tally, marking her 144^th career goal and placing her tied for tenth on Wagner's All-Time Scoring list. Senior attack Amanda Sutherland finished the Green & White's offensive surge with back-to-back goals as Wagner defeated St. Francis 19-5.

The only undefeated team in league play, Wagner returns to action Wednesday, March 29 for a mid-week tilt with local rival, Iona College. Set for 7:00 pm, the Seahawks will look to secure its second victory over the Gaels this season after defeating them 13-8 on March 18.

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