Cambridge, MA | Providence, RI - The Wagner College women's water polo team took part in the 2024 Bruno Classic, from Saturday, February 3rd to Sunday, February 4, hosted by Brown University.
The Seahawks spent the first day at Blodgett Pool in Cambridge, MA, where Wagner would face-off against Bucknell and #18 Harvard. The Green & White would then head to Providence, RI to take on #25 Pomona-Pitzer and Brown at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center on Sunday.
Game 1 Results: #20 Wagner 16 - Bucknell 8
The Seahawks opened up the Bruno Classic with a 5-2 lead after one quarter of play against the Bison. Captain junior Casey Taylor got the ball rolling by scoring the opening goal just a minute-and-a-half into the game. Wagner would spread the wealth throughout the frame, Taylor was joined by sophomore Carlota Alonso, senior Grace Coleman, senior Andrea Arias, and freshman Ana Arias who were all responsible for the Green & White's first quarter goals. Alonso and Ana Arias would come away with their second goals in the second quarter, as Wagner went into halftime with a 7-2 lead.
Wagner would outscore Bucknell 8-5 in the second half. In the third quarter, sophomore Magali Ogg and sophomore Martina Parisi would tally their first goals of the weekend. Andrea Arias would score her second, as Alonso continued to find the back of the net throughout the second half of the contest, scoring two in the third and fourth quarters, bringing her game total to six. Along with Alonso, Ana Arias and junior Emma Stec would score goals in the final frame.
For Ana Arias, this was her collegiate hat-trick of her career. As for Carlota Alonso, the Barcelona, Spain native has averaged 3.8 goals per game up to this point, scoring 19 in five games.
Game 2 Results: #20 Wagner 12 - #18 Harvard 7
The Seahawks and the Crimson were knotted up at two a piece after the first quarter. Preseason All-MAAC selection Andrea Arias scored both goals for Wagner. After keeping Harvard scoreless in the second frame, the Green & White would separate themselves on behalf of three goals from Alonso, one from Andrea Arias, and one from Ana Arias. At half, the Seahawks held an 8-2 over the eighteenth ranked team in the country.
Throughout the third quarter, Wagner and Harvard would exchange goals, as the Seahawks extended their lead by one going into the fourth. Andrea Arias would bring home two goals within the period, bringing her game total to five goals. Taylor and Alonso were responsible for the other two goals of the quarter. Heading into the fourth, Wagner held a 10-5 lead. Much like the first quarter, both teams scored two goals during the final stanza. The Seahawks' points came from the combination of Taylor and Alonso, as Alonso would score her fourth of the game.
Wagner would prevail over Harvard, 12-7.
Game 3 Results: #20 Wagner 15 - #25 Pomona-Pitzer 11
Against the Sagehens, the Seahawks began the second day of the Classic with a 5-2 lead after one quarter. Captain Casey Taylor scored the first goal, as Magali Ogg and Ana Arias scored one and two goals, respectively, all within the final two minutes of the first. Andrea Arias picked up where Wagner left off just 54 seconds into the second frame, netting her first of the game. Arias would score her second in the quarter with less than a minute left. Fellow preseason All-MAAC teammate Carlota Alonso also found the back of the net twice in the second. Wagner entered the second half with an 8-5 advantage.
Ana Arias would open the second half of the game halfway through the period, scoring her third hat-trick in the last three games. Carlota Alonso tallied her third of the contest with less than five seconds to go in the quarter. Both teams would net four goals in the fourth quarter, Carlota Alonso was responsible for two of them, bringing her game total to five goals. Taylor scored her second of the game, as senior Mar Navarro found the back of the net for the first time of the weekend to cap off a 14-11 victory over Pomona-Pitzer.
Game 4 Results: #20 Wagner 13 - Brown 10
In the final game of the weekend, Wagner led in the second quarter by as much as three goals. Heading into halftime, the Seahawks and Bears were knotted up at seven a piece. In the second half, Wagner held Brown to only three goals, and was able to find the back of the net six times.
Navarro poured in three goals as Alonso capped off an impressive weekend, scoring five goals in the game. Graduate student Pip Nash scored her first two goals of the weekend during the contest. Andrea Arias, Ana Arias, and Magali Ogg all tallied one goal. The Green & White would win their fourth-straight game, 13-10.
Preseason 'Goalie of the Year' sophomore Francesca Sena was in net for the Seahawks against Bucknell, #18 Harvard, and Brown. Against #25 Pomona-Pitzer, freshman Jillian Hemming provided valuable minutes during the final three quarters of the game.
"Our weekend was highlighted by great team wins over strong programs," said Coach Hower. "We are continuing to establish our roles and responsibilities, while showcasing our versatility. And the team is embracing them. It is exciting to see us come together this early in the season. We took steps toward being the team we want to become."
Next up, the Green & White will compete at the Bison Invitational in Lewisburg, PA from Saturday, February 10 to Sunday, February 11, hosted by Bucknell. There, Wagner will face-off against its first conference opponent of the season, La Salle, on Sunday at 3:40 pm.
Goal Totals:
Pip Nash - 2
Grace Coleman - 1
Emma Stec - 1
Magali Ogg - 3
Martina Parisi - 1
Carlota Alonso - 22
Casey Taylor - 4
Andrea Arias - 12
Mar Navarro - 5
Ana Arias - 7
