Los Angeles, CA – The five-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Wagner women's water polo team defeated UC San Diego 10-7 in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on Tuesday night, marking the second straight season that the Seahawks have won their opening round NCAA game, coming on the heels of the 2017 team's 6-5 win over these same Tritons.
With tonight's victory at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center on the campus of USC, the 2018 women's water polo team becomes the third team in Wagner history to win an NCAA playoff game, joining the 2017 women's water polo team and the 2012 Seahawk football team (31-20 win over Colgate).
With the win, the Green & White will face top-seeded USC on Friday, May 11 at 3:00 pm (Eastern) in the first round of the NCAA Championship.
In improving to 25-6 on the season, the 2018 Seahawk senior class, comprised of
Kimberly Watson,
Elise Begg,
Lacey Anderson, and
Anna Ward, now has 105 career wins which ties the 2017 team as the winningest class in program history.
The trio of freshman utility
Daisy Nankervis, junior attack
Erica Hardy, and sophomore attack
Jacqui Sjogren, delivered late, securing the final three goals for Wagner in the fifth and sixth periods tonight.
The Tritons and the Green& White battled throughout the game, ending each of the first four periods in a tie. Tonight's game featured balanced offensive scoring as four Seahawks contributed two goals apiece in Begg, redshirt sophomore utility
Kristy Donkin, Watson, and Nankervis.
Watson and Hardy spearheaded the Wagner on the defensive end of the pool, grabbing six and four steals, respectively.
Freshman goalie
Katherine Campbell blocked nine shots and grabbed two steals while also posting a .563 save percentage in the cage.
To watch the Wagner-USC matchup on May 11, click
HERE
Follow us: #CHAOSonthehill
Wagner Athletics
Water Polo:
Wagner Gameday:
