No. 12 Women's Water Polo Edged by No. 13 Hartwick In Overtime

Pictured Above: Kimberly Watson, Elise Begg, Anna Ward and Lacey Anderson (Credit: Cos Lymperopoulos)

Staten Island, NY – The Wagner women's water polo team fell to No. 13 Hartwick College 18-17 in overtime on Saturday morning at the Spiro Sports Center

Despite a late goal with just .03 seconds remaining in the final three minutes of the second overtime period by senior attack Elise Begg, the Hartwick Hawks emerged victorious over Wagner with a final score of 18-17.

Following the recognition of four Seahawks from the 2018 senior class in Anna Ward, Elise Begg, Kimberly Watson, and Lacey Anderson, we were off to an evenly-matched first quarter.

The Hawks fired in the first goal of the game, before senior attack Lacey Anderson found the back of the net just 40 seconds later.

The Hawks tallied another goal from Lauren Brennan before the Green & White fought back with four unanswered goals from junior attack Erica Hardy (2), Begg, and sophomore attack Jacqui Sjogren to give Wagner a 5-3 lead at the end of the first eight minutes of play.

The second period included strong offensive performances by both squads. For the Hawks, Charlotte Cottle, L.J. Edwards, and Lena Kotanchyan each netted goals for Hartwick. Watson added two in the second, while Hardy contributed one, completing her hat trick. Freshman goalie Katherine Campbell saved a Hartwick shot in the final two seconds of the first half to keep the Wagner lead, 8-7.

Watson opened the second half winning the sprint, however, the Hartwick trio of Polak, Wilson, and Kotanchyan scored three unanswered goals to take the lead 10-8. Seahawk redshirt sophomore Kristy Donkin, Begg, and Sjogren battled back each finding the back of the net one time apiece, taking the lead 11-10.

Entering the final period of regulation, Watson won yet another sprint and dished it to freshman utility Daisy Nankervis who scored 45 seconds into the fourth period. Watson then took matters into her own hands, scoring her third goal of the game and securing a hat trick, before Hardy tallied her fourth. The Hawks strung together five unanswered goals to take the lead at 15-14. Watson came in clutch with a goal in the final seconds of regulation play to take the game into overtime.

The first three minute overtime period included a sprint won by Watson and a go-ahead goal from Donkin before a five-meter penalty call and goal scored by Lena Kotanchyan. Hartwick's Polak hit her fourth and fifth goals of the game to go ahead 17-16 with just three more minutes to play in the second and final overtime period.

Watson grabbed the ball off the sprint in the last three minutes, however Polak and the Hawks capitalized on another goal, her sixth of the game. Watson rallied off a quick shot with under a minute to play, but Hartwick goalie Josette Santos made the save to keep the score 18-16.

Begg notched her third and final goal of the game but it wouldn't be enough for the Seahawks, as Hartwick captured a 18-17 victory over Wagner.

Follow us: #CHAOSonthehill
Wagner Athletics