Santa Barbara, CA – The No. 14-ranked Wagner women's water polo team concluded the UCSB Invite and the first weekend of the 2019 season with a 9-4 defeat to host No. 17 UC Santa Barbara, followed by a 11-8 win over No. 15 UC San Diego.

UC Santa Barbara 9, Wagner 4:
The Gauchos jumped out to an early 2-0 lead to open the first stanza, holding the Seahawks scoreless after the first eight minutes of play. Senior captain Erica Hardy took matters into her own hands, registering the first Green & White goal to begin the second period.

UCSB then capitalized on a five meter penalty shot, setting the score at 3-1. Hardy found the back of the net for the second time off a dish from freshman Philippa Nash.

Two more Gaucho goals before the sound of the horn would give UCSB a 5-2 lead at the halfway mark, despite a strong defensive effort from sophomore goalie Katherine Campbell, who blocked six shots in the first half alone.

Hardy secured a hat trick, netting her third goal of the game in the third period, followed by another Seahawk goal from freshman Sofia Diaz Alvarez. UC Santa Barbara, however, ran with the lead, and scored four more goals to Wagner's zero for a 9-4 win over the Green & White.

Wagner11, No. 17 UC San Diego 8:
Contrary to the game prior, the Seahawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Tritons to begin the matchup with a pair of goals from sophomore Savannah Henshaw and junior Jacqui Sjogren.

UC San Diego bounced back with a pair of its own to lock the score at 2-2. Diaz Alvarez scored on an outside rocket before the Tritons registered their third goal on a power play opportunity.

Sophomore Malia Josephson, Diaz Alvarez and redshirt junior Kristy Donkin each scored one goal apiece, combined with a five meter penalty save from Campbell, allowing Wagner to take the lead at 6-3 after the first quarter.

In the second period, Josephson notched her second tally followed by Nash's first of the game. The Green & White led UCSD 8-4 at halftime.

Sjogren kicked off the third with a quick turn around to find the back of the net. The Tritons converted on a five meter penalty, making the score 9-5.

Josephson netted her third goal of the game to extend the Seahawk lead to 10-5 with just 2:12 remaining in the third. UCSD scored twice more to cut the lead to 10-7.

Sophomore Daisy Nankervis scored in the final period off a counter attack pass from Nash followed by a power play goal from the Tritons as the score was set at 11-8 in favor of Wagner.

Campbell posted 12 saves in the win over the No. 17 ranked UC San Diego Tritons, helping the Seahawks to their first win of the 2019 campaign.

The Green & White are back in action of February 1-3 at the Brown Invite in Providence, RI.

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