Santa Barbara, CA – The No. 14-ranked Wagner women's water polo team opened the 2019 season by suffering two hard-fought defeats, a 7-5 loss to the Azusa Pacific, followed by 
 a loss to No. 6 UC Irvine with a final score of 13-8.

Azusa Pacific 7 Wagner 5:
Sophomore transfer Savannah Henshaw opened up the game with her first goal in a Seahawk cap, giving the Green & White a 1-0 lead at the start of the first stanza. The Cougars answered with one goal before freshman Sofia Diaz Alvarez notched her first career goal in the first eight minutes of play.

Senior Erica Hardy and Diaz Alvarez put together back to back goals in the second period off of assists from junior Kristy Donkin and junior Jacqui Sjogren, respectively. 

Donkin found the back of the net to give Wagner a 5-2 lead at the halfway mark. Sophomore Daisy Nankervis kicked off the third quarter winning the sprint, however, neither team would score in the third.

APU made a strong push in the last eight minutes both offensively and defensively, scoring five unanswered goals, leading the Cougars to a 7-5 victory over the Green & White.

No. 6 UC Irvine 13, Wagner 8:
After eight minutes, the No. 6 Anteaters led the Seahawks 2-0. Hardy was the first player in a Green & White cap to register a goal off the pass from Nankervis followed by a power play goal off a dish from Donkin.

UC Irvine tallied three more goals before Hardy scored her second and third goals of the game. The Anteaters took a 7-2 lead when Sjogren found the back of the cage. UC Irvine held a 7-4 advantage at the halfway mark.

A dish from Nankervis to Sjogren made the score 8-5 before UC Irvine went on a 3-0 run for an 11-5 lead at the end of three quarters of play. The trio of Donkin, Henshaw and Diaz Alvarez tallied one goal apiece in the fourth, but it wouldn't be enough as the Anteaters emerged victorious with a final score of 13-8.

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