POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Marist Water Polo team looks to claim its fifth program championship title this season under the new leadership of Head Coach Natalie Benson, as it returns to action this weekend, opening its 2014 season at the Brown Invite.
The Red Foxes are coming off a 25-12 season, as they claimed a 10-2 record within the conference last season. Marist fell to Iona in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Semi-finals to finish the 2013 season, placing third in the MAAC.
The team returns 10 letter winners, seven of those being starters, for the 2014 season. Marist lost six letter winners from last season, but welcomes seven newcomers to this year's roster, as well as former Olympian Benson to the coaching roster.
After being named to the All-MAAC First Team last season, junior Jessica Hamby (Sacramento, Calif.) will be a key returner for the Red Foxes. In the 2013 season, Hamby led Marist compiling 67 goals from 138 shots to post a .486 shot percentage. In her 37 games played, she also tallied 24 assists, six 5-meter goals out of eight attempts, 60 steals, 10 field blocks, 29 ejections, and 54 ejections drawn.
To assist the Red Foxes this season, junior Hannah Levien (Davis, Calif.) returns after posting 44 goals, 151 shots, a .291 shot percentage and 22 assists. Levien led Marist with seven 5-meter goals and 10 5-meter attempts.
Also returning for the Red Foxes are its captains - senior Yuriria Chavez (Chicago, Ill.) and junior Anna-Lena Hathaway (Pasadena, Calif.). In the 2013 season, Chavez played in all 37 games, posting 25 goals, 55 shots, a .455 shot percentage, 25 assists, and 41 steals. Hathaway led Marist in steals last season, forcing 88 steals throughout her 37 games played. She also tallied 39 goals, 108 shots, a .361 shot percentage, 45 assists, and was second on the team with nine field blocks.
Also contributing to the Red Foxes this season will be seniors Kathryn Knutson (Oakland, Calif.) and Natalie Stringer (San Diego, Calif.); juniors Allison Hamby (Sacramento, Calif.), Chauncey Hirose-Hulbert (Honolulu, Hawaii), and Jamison Mahar (Riverside, Calif.); sophomores Brooke Else (Lansdale, Pa.) and Skylar Henry (San Diego, Calif.); and freshman Amanda Amorosa (Montreal, QC), Alayna Hayick (Mohnton, Pa.), Nastassia McGlothlin (Mission Viejo, Calif.), Jocelyn McQuade (Vancouver, BC), Molly Shamieh (Slymar, Calif.), and Emma Tice (Placentia, Calif.).
After their season opener, the Red Foxes move on to compete at the UCSD Invite Feb. 8-9, before traveling to the Bucknell Invite on Feb. 15-1, and then on to in-state rival Hartwick on Feb. 22. Marist will host its only home games of the season on March 30 against VMI at 9 a.m., and Wagner at 4 p.m. The Red Foxes will commemorate their three seniors that day, before Marist finishes its season on the road.
Marist will host its 11th straight MAAC Championship at McCann Natatorium on the weekend of April 26-27. The two semifinal games will be played on Saturday afternoon with the consolation and championship games being held the following afternoon.
Marist will open its schedule vs. Pacific at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday before taking on MAAC rival Siena at 6 p.m. for the first day of the Brown Invite. The following day, the Red Foxes will face off against Brown at 11 a.m., with a game against Hartwick to follow at 2:15 p.m.
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-GoRedFoxes.com- | Season Preview Video
