Women's Water Polo Becomes First Program To Win Four Consecutive MAAC Championships

Game Highlights
MAAC Release
Championship Headquarters

Poughkeepsie, NY – The Wagner women's water polo team became the first program in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) history to win four consecutive league titles after defeating Marist College, 11-7, on Sunday.

With the victory, the Seahawks earn the league's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Championship.

Co-Offensive Player of the Year, junior utility Kimberly Watson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec / John Rennie) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, registering ten goals, six sprints won, four steals, and two assists.

Additionally, senior goalkeeper Emily Riddle (Edmonton, Alberta / Dr. E.P. Scarlett) and freshman attack Franciska Milo-Sidlo (Budapest, Hungary / Pasareti Gimnazium) joined her on the All-Tournament team. Riddle collected 15 saves on the weekend, while Milo-Sidlo netted the go-ahead goal in the final stanza.

The second-seeded Red Foxes jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the opening quarter, scoring four straight markers after Watson's initial goal with 6:53 remaining in the stanza.

However, the Seahawks countered in the second period, outscoring Marist 4-1. Watson's second strike less than one minute in marked her 100th goal of the season and ignited a 3-0 run for the Green & White, which was completed by sophomore attack Erica Hardy (Montreal, Quebec / St. Thomas) and Watson's third tally.

Senior Amanda Amorosa ended the Seahawks streak, leading the Red Foxes with two goals on the day. However, junior attack Lacey Anderson (Thousand Oaks, CA / Westlake) rattled the cage with one minute remaining in the half as the two teams entered intermission tied 5-5.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth matchup with both teams scoring two goals apiece. Freshman attack Jacqui Sjogren (Queensland, Australia / St. Andrews Anglican College) led the charge before Anderson netted her second strike.

Entering the final eight minutes tied 7-7, the Seahawks fired four unanswered markers to propel them to an 11-7 triumph. Milo-Sidlo tallied the go-ahead goal 51 seconds into the quarter, followed by scores from Watson, herself, and freshman center Millie Pullyblank (Victoria, Australia / Haileybury Girls College).

Wagner's fourth straight conference tournament victory is the most consecutive wins by any program in Wagner College Athletics history. Seniors Gabryel Oloapu, Emily Riddle, and Amanda Sutherland are the first class to win a championship in each year of their collegiate career.

The NCAA Women's Water Polo selection show will be streamed on NCAA.com tomorrow, May 1 at 8:00 pm.

Follow us: #CHAOSonthehill
Wagner Athletics