Women’s Water Polo Advances To The MAAC Championship After Defeating Iona 13-5

Game Highlights
Championship Headquarters

Poughkeepsie, NY – The Wagner women's water polo team advances to the 2017 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship, Sunday, April 30 after defeating the fourth-seeded Iona Gaels, 13-5 this afternoon.

The Green & White will face the second-seeded Marist Red Foxes for the fourth-straight year after they bested the third-seeded Virginia Military Institute Keydets, 11-7 in the second semifinal matchup.

MAAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec / John Rennie) led the charge with six goals as the Seahawks' defense held her co-winner, Hannah Schultz scoreless. With her six strikes in today's contest, Watson is just two goals away from netting 100 on the season. Additionally, her two assists put her No. 10 in program history with 105 career assists.

The opening stanza was an evenly contested as both teams ended the eight minutes with two tallies apiece. However, a three goal run in the second quarter from Watson and All-MAAC Second Team selection Elise Begg (Newbury Park, CA / Newbury Park) gave the Seahawks a 5-3 lead entering intermission.

Wagner extended its lead to 9-4 in the third quarter behind two penalty shots from Watson and strikes from sophomore attack Erica Hardy (Montreal, Quebec / St. Thomas) and freshman attack Jacqui Sjogren (Queensland, Australia / St. Andrews Anglican College).

For the second consecutive stanza, the Seahawks outscored the Gaels 4-1. Watson sandwiched her final two markers around tallies from Hardy and All-MAAC Second Team selection, Millie Pullyblank (Victoria, Australia / Haileybury Girls College).

Defensive Player of the Year, senior goalkeeper Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta / Dr. E.P. Scarlett) registered eight saves on the day, giving her 218 saves on the season.

The Seahawks return April 30 at 2:00 pm for championship Sunday on the campus of Marist College. The three-time defending champions aim to become the first team in MAAC history to win four consecutive conference titles.

Elise Begg, 3 goals
Erica Hardy, 2 goals
Millie Pullyblank, 1 goal
Jacqui Sjogren, 1 goal, 1 assist
Kimberly Watson, 6 goals, 2 assists

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