Offensive Player of the Week
Sydney Smith, VMI
Sr., McLean, VA,
Bishop O'Connell High School
Smith was a huge reason VMI went 3-1 this past weekend, netting 20 goals in four games, including a season-high seven in a win over Grove City. In a one-goal victory over host Macalester, Smith scored three fourth-quarter goals while drawing a pair of exclusions. In a win over Carthage, Smith had three goals. Smith's 191 career goals are tied for third all-time at VMI.
Defensive Player of the Week
Ines Sanchez, Marist
Sr., Barcelona, Spain, Voramon
Ines Sanchez played in all four games this past weekend where Marist went 3-1. In the first match vs SJSU, she saved 12 of 23 shots against her for a save percentage of 52% in a 15-14 loss. In the second match vs CSUN Sanchez saved six of nine shots against her for a save percentage of 67% in a 16-11 win. In the fourth match against Pomona-Pitzer she saved nine of 12 shots against her for a save percentage of 75% in a 15-9 win. Over the weekend Sanchez saved 27 of 44 shots for a save percentage of 61%.
Rookie of the Week
Julia Allen, LIU
R-Fr., Lake Worth Beach, FL, Long Beach State/Boca Raton Community
Julia Allen totaled 15 goals, seven exclusions drawn, three steals, and one block at the ASU Sun Devil Classic. She netted a career-high eight goals on 10 shots in LIU's win over Biola. Allen led the Sharks in goals in three of four games; eight against Biola, three against Azusa Pacific, and two against Arizona State.
The 2026 MAAC Water Polo Championship will take place April 11-12, 2026. The four-team, single-elimination championship will be hosted by Marist University in Poughkeepsie, NY. Marist has hosted the Water Polo Championship annually since 2003. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Water Polo Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wp.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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