Women's Water Polo Notches Two More Victories For Eight Straight

Lexington, VA – The Wagner women's water polo team notched two more victories over No. 24 Marist College and La Salle University, extending its perfect Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record to 8-0. After defeating the Red Foxes 9-5, the Green & White handled first-year program La Salle, 21-2.

Wagner 9 Marist 5
The Seahawks completed a season sweep of co-preseason Marist after defeating the Red Foxes 9-5 in their second meeting. Senior goalkeeper Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta / Dr. E.P. Scarlett) held the Red Foxes to just five goals as she registered a season-high twelve saves for the second consecutive game.

Wagner outscored its opponent 3-1 in the opening stanza. Junior utility Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec / John Rennie) dished an assist to reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week, Millie Pullyblank (Victoria, Australia / Haileybury Girls School) before burying an unassisted goal of her own. After a successful penalty shot attempt by Marist's Amanda Amorosa, junior attack Elise Begg (Newbury Park, CA / Newbury) netted the final goal of the stanza before both teams were held scoreless for the remaining 4:45.

Both Watson and sophomore attack Erica Hardy (Montreal, Quebec / St. Thomas) took advantage of power play opportunities netting back-to-back goals in the second quarter as the Seahawks extended their lead 5-2 at the half.

The third quarter was an even matchup between the co-preseason favorites with Wagner's lone goal coming from junior attack Lacey Anderson (Thousand Oaks, CA / Westlake) on a man-up opportunity.

Leading 6-3 entering the final eight minutes of play, the Green & White logged three additional markers from Pullyblank, Watson, and Begg to secure a 9-5 victory. Watson recorded her 13^th hat trick of the season as the No. 17 Seahawks snapped the Red Foxes' four-game win streak.

Wagner 21 La Salle 2
The Seahawks buried MAAC newcomer, La Salle in just three quarters of play to extend their MAAC regular season win streak to 22 contests. Each field player netted goals for the Green & White as well as senior goalkeeper Emily Riddle. Defensively, Riddle and fellow goalie Anna Ward (Grayslake, IL / Mundelein) held the Explorers scoreless in the first half, while the Seahawks combined for a season-high 18 steals.

Wagner captured an early 7-0 lead in the opening eight minutes, scoring early and often. Freshman center Millie Pullyblank ignited the offense with her first marker 20 seconds into the contest off an assist from junior utility Kimberly Watson.

The Seahawks logged another seven goals in the second quarter, beginning with junior attack Lacey Anderson's strike with 7:14 left in the half. Sophomore attack Abby Irving (Brentwood Bay, B.C. / Canadian Sport School [Stelly's]) completed her second hat trick on the season midway through the stanza off an assist from senior attack Amanda Sutherland (Denton, TX / Denton Ryan). The Canadian native would go on to score twice more, registering a team-high of five tallies for the contest.

Entering the third quarter with a 14-0 lead, the Explorers finally put themselves on the board with markers from Kacie Cios and Katelynn Kubo. However, the Green & White managed to reach the back of the net five more times as Pullyblank and senior attack Gabryel Oloapu (Auckland, New Zealand / Diocesan) completed hat tricks.

The final stanza was scoreless for both teams as Wagner secured its eighth consecutive triumph, 21-2 over La Salle University.

The three-time defending MAAC champions return to VMI tomorrow, April 2 for a noon matchup with the host institution.

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