PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Marist water polo team trumped Villanova in its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victory, defeating the Bobcats 17-3.
“It was great to come out and get our first conference win,” said Head Coach Natalie Benson. “The entire roster got some quality playing time. From start to finish, we played strong defense, getting 15 steals on the perimeter, which led to well balanced scoring offensively.”
Game One
The Red Foxes jumped out to a 6-0 nothing lead in the first quarter, as junior Jessica Hamby (Sacramento, Calif.) tallied two goals. Villanova could only post two goals to Marist's four in the second quarter. Not letting up, the Red Foxes notched five unanswered goals in the third quarter to boast a 13-goal lead entering the fourth. To close out the matchup, the Red Foxes added two more to the score board, as the Bobcats could only claim one goal and get no closer.
Leading Marist in the win, Jessica Hamby and freshman Jocelyn McQuade (Vancouver, BC) each claimed three goals. The double-digit scoring was spread throughout 10 different Red Foxes. Also posting goals for Marist were senior Katie Knutson (Oakland, Calif.), junior Hannah Levien (Davis, Calif.), senior Yuriria Chavez (Chicago, Ill.), freshman Amanda Amorosa (Montreal, QC), junior Allison Hamby (Sacramento, Calif.), junior Anna-Lena Hathaway (South Pasadena, Calif.), freshman Nastassia McGlothlin (Mission Viejo, Calif.), and sophomore Brooke Else (Lansdale, Pa.).
Also for Marist, Amorosa posted four assists, while Jessica Hamby claimed three steals and a field block. In net for the Red Foxes, sophomore Skyler Henry (San Diego, Calif.) compiled 12 saves in the outing, while also claiming a steal.
Game Two
The Red Foxes came out strong with six unanswered goals in the first quarter. Marist's defense posted two strong quarters in the second and third, as St. Francis was unable to find the net. All the while, Marist notched two goals in each quarter, giving them a 10-0 lead entering the fourth. Freshman Amanda Amorosa (Montreal, QC) claimed three of the Red Foxes' four goals to end the game. St. Francis would only post four goals in the fourth quarter.
Amoroa led the team with five goals, while junior Anna-Lena Hathaway (South Pasadena, Calif.) was second on the team with three scores. Hathaway also led Marist with three assists and two field blocks. Also for the Red Foxes, junior Allison Hamby (Sacramento, Calif.) compiled four steals, while sister Jessica Hamby (Sacramento, Calif.) had five ejections drawn. Sophomore goalie Skyler Henry (San Diego, Calif.) made 10 saves in the outing.
Of their nine man-up opportunities, the Red Foxes capitalized on four of them. Defensively, the team defended three of their four five-on-six opportunities.
Marist will travel to Iona next Saturday for a two-game series. On Sunday, March 30, the team will recognize its seniors before their matchup against VMI kicks off at 9:00 a.m.
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