EDISON, New Jersey - Marist water polo was selected second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, it was announced Thursday morning. The league's head coaches ranked teams based on their anticipated finish at the 2020 MAAC Water Polo Championships. Carsen Horvatich was named Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, and Anais Mathes was picked as the Preseason Co-Player of the Year.

The Red Foxes ended the 2019 season at 22-16 overall, 12-2 in the MAAC and finished runners-up in the championship. Marist earned four All-MAAC honorees and two ACWPC All-Americans in head coach Chris Vidale's third season at the helm of the program.

Carsen Horvatich is coming off of the best season of her career, where she was named First Team All-MAAC and four-time Defensive Player of the Week. She recorded 220 saves for a save percentage of 48.3 along with 24 steals. The goalkeeper blocked a season-high of 15 shots each against Iona and Villanova on April 14.


Anais Mathes appeared in all 37 games in 2019, and tallied a career-high of 45 goals along with 20 assists and 14 steals. She scored her season-high of five goals against Siena on March 24. She was the Red Foxes' second-leading scorer for the season.


Marist is returning five of their top eight scorers from 2019, as well as their top two goalkeepers. The Red Foxes are adding six freshmen as well as a transfer student that can all serve to make an immediate impact to the team. The season officially begins on January 18 at the Rainbow Invite hosted by Hawaii, where Marist will face off with Fresno State, Loyola Marymount and the hosting Rainbow Warriors.
 

Preseason Awards

Preseason All-MAAC Team
Sofia Diaz Alvarez - Wagner
Anais Mathes - Marist
Jordan Van Reekan - Iona
Sarah DeFusco – La Salle
Jacqui Sjogren - Wagner
Diana Fernandez - Siena
McKenna Imset – VMI
 
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year 
Carsen Horvatich – Marist
 
Preseason Players of the Year
Anais Mathes – Marist
Sofia Diaz Alvarez – Wagner

MAAC Preseason Poll

1. Wagner – 77
2. Marist – 76
3. Iona – 56
4. La Salle – 51
5. Virginia Military – 42
6. Villanova - 39
7. Siena – 23
8. St. Francis Brooklyn – 21
9. LIU - 20