POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The No. 3 Wagner women's water polo team punched its ticket to the 2026 MAAC Championship game, defeating No. 2 Villanova, 12–11, in the semifinal round on Saturday afternoon at McCann Natatorium.
After more than four scoreless minutes to begin the game, the Wildcats struck first. The teams then traded goals, as junior Maylen Sampedro Tarela scored Wagner's two goals in the period, with the score tied at 2–2 at the end of the first.
Junior Catherine Mentz opened the scoring for the Seahawks in the second quarter before Villanova answered with two straight goals to take a 4–3 lead with 6:33 remaining in the frame. Freshman Makayla Ulmer-Lutudromu tied the game at four before the Green & White added two more goals, courtesy of Sampedro Tarela and senior Martina Parisi, to take a 6–4 advantage into halftime.
Villanova regained momentum to open the second half, scoring twice to tie the game at six. Junior Alex Hlohovsky Andrist answered with a goal, followed by freshman Lacey Aquaro, to put the Seahawks back in front by two. The Wildcats responded with a pair of goals, including one in the final seconds of the quarter, to even the score at 8–8 heading into the fourth.
Mentz opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, but Villanova responded less than a minute later to tie the game once again. Mentz then found the back of the net for her third goal of the contest, followed by another tally from Sampedro Tarela, to give Wagner an 11–9 lead with 4:00 remaining.
All-MAAC First Team selection Magali Ogg extended the lead to three with 1:11 remaining. Villanova answered just five seconds later and, after a defensive stop, added another goal with :49 remaining to cut the deficit to one. The Wildcats came up with a save with :21 remaining, but the Seahawk defense held strong, preventing Villanova from getting a shot off in the final moments to secure the win.
With the victory, the Seahawks advance to their 19th MAAC Championship game and will face top-seeded Marist on Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m. on ESPN+ at McCann Natatorium.
Marist, the tournament host, went 8–0 in MAAC play this season and earned an 11–6 semifinal win over No. 4 La Salle. Wagner defeated Marist, 14–11, in last year's championship game, though the Red Foxes have won all three meetings between the teams this season.
Sunday's contest will mark the 57th all-time meeting between the programs and the 11th in the MAAC Championship game. Wagner holds a 9–1 record against Marist in the title game, having won each of the last nine meetings.
A win would give Wagner three consecutive MAAC Championships and its 13th overall title.
Goals: Sampedro Tarela (4), Mentz (3), Aquaro, Ogg, Parisi, Ulmer-Lutudromu, Hlohovsky Andrist
