No. 18 Women's Water Polo Looks To Win Fifth Straight MAAC Title

MAAC Championship Information

Poughkeepsie, NY – The four-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champions, the No. 18 Wagner women's water polo team is set to defend its crown at the 2018 MAAC Championships, held at Marist College on April 28-29.

Wagner claimed its fifth MAAC Water Polo Regular Season Championship in the last six years, and ninth overall. In addition, the current Seahawk senior class has now amassed 102 victories.

Joining the Seahawks in the four-team field is host institution Marist, Virginia Military Institute (VMI), and Iona. The Green & White are the No. 1 seed after accumulating a perfect 14-0 conference mark en route to its third straight regular season title. The Red Foxes, who finished the conference season at 12-2 are the No. 2 seed, followed by Iona (9-5) and VMI (8-6).

Playing for Five
The Seahawks will look to become the first MAAC program to capture five-straight conference championships while also receiving the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Two other schools, Marist and Iona, have won three straight league titles in their history.

Scouting VMI
The Seahawks will meet the fourth-seeded Virginia Military Institute Keydets on Saturday, April 28 in a 12:00 pm matchup in the first semifinal round of the tournament. Wagner bested VMI 8-6 on March 11, behind two goals apiece from senior utility Kimberly Watson and redshirt sophomore utility Kristy Donkin, before defeating the Keydets 13-9 on April 7.

The second meeting between the two teams was a hard-fought battle, as freshman utility Daisy Nankervis led the squad, firing off four goals and dishing out four assists. Senior utility Kimberly Watson, senior attack Lacey Anderson, and junior attack Erica Hardy each notched two goals apiece. Sophomore attack Jacqui Sjogren, sophomore attack Franciska Milo-Sidlo, and redshirt sophomore utility Kristy Donkin contributed one goal, respectively.

VMI is led by three-time MAAC Offensive Player of the Week, Shelby Barkley, who has 100 goals on the season, just one ahead of Wagner's Watson. Barkley ranks second in the MAAC in scoring (100 goals) and fourth in overall points (111).

Tournament Schedule
The No. 2 Marist Red Foxes will take on the No. 3 Iona Gaels in the second semifinal on Saturday, April 29 at 2:00 pm. The winners will then move on to the championship game, which is slated for 2:00 p.m. with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

Follow From Home
If you are unable to make the trip to the McCann Center, all games will be available to stream live at MAAC TV. Additionally, follow @WagnerGameday and @Wagner_Polo on Twitter for in-game updates.

Click HERE to watch live stream of No. 1 Wagner vs. No. 4 VMI

Click HERE to follow live stats of No. 1 Wagner vs. No. 4 VMI

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