POUGHKEEPSIE, New York -- The Marist water polo team returns to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play when they host their annual MAAC weekend at McCann Natatorium.

The Red Foxes will square off against La Salle (Noon) and Iona (4:30 PM) on Saturday and St. Francis Brooklyn (Noon) and Siena (6 PM) on Sunday.

LAST TIME OUT:

Marist is coming off a two week break from action, having last played on Sunday, March 25th in New Rochelle, NY on the campus of the Iona Gaels where the Red Foxes picked up its sixth MAAC win of the season with a 6-5 victory vs the Villanova Wildcats.

Sophomore Justine Castro got Marist on the board with a goal just 40 seconds into the game off an assist from senior co-captain Diana Carballo. Just under five minutes later, Carballo found the back of the net of an assist from junior co-captain Katherine Tijerina and then sophomore Lexi Puhl extended the Red Foxes' lead to 3-0 after the opening eight minutes.

The second quarter proved to be all Wildcats, as Villanova held Marist scoreless and netted two even strength goals in the final five minutes of the period to send the game into the half with the Red Foxes holding a 3-2 advantage.

Less than a minute into the second half, the Wildcats tied the game on a powerplay goal. Marist answered just under a minute later when Carballo put home her second goal of the morning but the Red Fox lead didn't last long, as Villanova evened the score at 4-4 with a goal roughly eight seconds later. With just over two minutes left in the third quarter, Castro netted her second goal of the game but again the Wildcats answered, tying the game at 5-5 with 52 seconds left in the period.

The two teams entered the final eight minutes all even and put forth a tight defensive battle for more than half the final quarter until Tijerina from junior Susan Cantoni gave Marist the 6-5 lead with 67 seconds left in the game. Villanova looked to answer but the Red Foxes held on for the win.

SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

La Salle enters the weekend with an 0-11 (0-7 MAAC) record and are coming off a 15-2 loss at Iona on March 25th.

Earlier in the season, Marist picked up a 24-7 win vs the Explorers on March 11th at Siena College.

SCOUTING THE GAELS:

Iona brings an 8-19 (5-2 MAAC) record into the weekend and are coming off a 15-2 win vs La Salle on March 25th.

The Red Foxes picked up a 7-5 win over the Gaels in their first meeting on March 10th at Siena.

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS:

St.Francis enters the weekend with a 4-13 (1-6 MAAC) record and are coming off a 20-11 win vs Connecticut College on March 28th.

Marist topped the Terriers 13-10 in the team's first meeting on March 10th at Siena.

SCOUTING THE SAINTS:

Siena enters the weekend with a 6-16 (3-4 MAAC) record and are coming off a 16-4 win vs Utica on March 30th.

In the team's first meeting of the season, the Red Foxes picked up a 22-6 win at the Saints on March 11th.

HOW TO FOLLOW:

All four games will be streamed live on ESPN3 with Geoff Brault (Play x Play) and Brian Kelly (La Salle), Tamara Perea (Iona) and Betsey Armstrong (St Francis + Siena) on color. Live stats will also be available for each game. Fans can follow @MaristWP on Twitter for in game updates.

UP NEXT:

Marist is back in action on Saturday, April 14 at Villanova (3 PM), vs VMI (7:30 PM) and vs Wagner (10:30 a.m.) on Sunday.