POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (Apr. 11, 2026) – The 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Water Polo Championship semifinals wrapped with No. 3 Wagner University edging No. 2 Villanova University, 12-11, to advance to the title match, while top-seeded Marist University secured an 11-6 victory over No. 4 La Salle University to punch its ticket to the championship.
No. 3 Wagner - 12 | No. 2 Villanova - 11
McCann Natatorium | Poughkeepsie, NY
Box Score
The No. 3 Wagner Seahawks (13-12, 6-2 MAAC) defeated the No. 2 Villanova Wildcats (20-8, 7-1 MAAC) 12-11 in a tightly contested semifinal battle Saturday afternoon in McCann Natatorium in Poughkeepsie, NY.
After a slow start to the opening quarter, Villanova’s Sarah Withers broke through with the first goal of the tournament, firing a shot into the top-left corner with 3:45 remaining. Wagner quickly answered, as attacker Maylen Sampedro Tarela found the back of the cage. The Wildcats regained the lead on a penalty conversion from Layla Canales, but the Seahawks responded once more to even the score at 2-2 by the end of the first.
The second quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle, featuring three lead changes and two ties. Wagner capitalized late, using a key run to take a 6-4 advantage into halftime. Villanova stormed back in the third, erasing the deficit and leveling the match at 8-8 heading into the final frame. In the fourth, Wagner delivered in the clutch, outscoring the Wildcats 4-3. Despite Villanova controlling the final possession, the Seahawks held firm to secure the 12-11 victory and advance to Sunday’s MAAC Championship.
Wagner Notes and Notables
- Wagner controlled the second quarter and closed the fourth quarter strong to take the victory
- Wagner scored four goals in the final frame (game-high for any quarter)
- Seahawks are looking to earn their third consecutive title and 13th overall
- Wagner avenged a 14-15 regular season loss to the Wildcats, which came on March 14 at Villanova
Villanova Notes and Notables
- Layla Canales, Anna Painter, and Ella Mattocks combined for seven steals
- Canales led the Wildcats in goals with four on the afternoon
- Withers ended the day with two goals and four assist
- Offensive Player of the Year, Riley Hull lead the team with seven exclusions, followed by Mattocks with six
No. 1 Marist - 11 | No. 4 La Salle - 6
McCann Natatorium | Poughkeepsie, NY
Box Score
No. 1 Marist (24-5, 8-0 MAAC) powered past No. 4 La Salle (14-6, 5-3 MAAC) 11-6 in the second semifinal of the day, punching its ticket back to the MAAC Championship finale with a dominant start-to-finish performance.
Marist came out firing, opening the game on a 4-0 first-quarter run, immediately setting the tone on both ends of the pool. La Salle struggled to break through the Red Foxes’ defense in the opening frame and were held scoreless again in the second quarter as Marist extended the lead to 6-0 at halftime.
Marist’s Kendell DeBeer was a standout, scoring four goals, while Anita Radaelli added two to the team’s total. La Salle struggled to find the net early, failing to score in the first two periods, before rallying with six goals in the second half.
Marist’s defense, anchored by Goalkeeper of the Year Ines Sanchez, who recorded nine saves, played a crucial role in maintaining its lead throughout the match.
The Explorers finally found rhythm in the third, responding with three goals, including back-to-back finishes to cut into the deficit. However, Marist answered right back with a surge of their own, matching La Salle’s push with four goals in the quarter, extending the lead to 10-3 heading into the fourth.
In the final frame, La Salle added three more goals, but Marist stayed in control, tacking on one additional score to close out the 11-6 victory and secure a return to the championship game.
Marist Notes and Notables
- Following DeBeer’s four goals, Radaelli followed with two of her own
- Marist held LaSalle scoreless through the first 14+ minutes of play
- Paige Naegle and Jolanta Szentpali each recorded a steal
- The Wildcats had a .524 shot percentage
- Goalkeeper of the Year, Ines Sanches had a .600 save percentage
- Marist will face Wagner in the Championship Final game for the third straight year
La Salle Notes and Notables
- The Explorers recorded 12 exclusions
- LaSalle matched Marist with 21 shots on goal
- Rookie of the year Nadaya Azzopardi scored one goal with five shots on goal
- Ella Tice tied Azzopardi with five shots on goal
- Generated 6 total second-half goals
The 2026 MAAC Water Polo Championship final is set for a familiar showdown, as No. 1 Marist and No. 3 Wagner meet once again for the title. The Red Foxes and Seahawks have developed one of the conference’s defining rivalries, with the two programs meeting 10 times in championship history since 2003. Wagner holds the edge in the all-time championship series, leading 9-1.
Marist will look to capture its sixth MAAC championship, while Wagner enters the final in pursuit of its 13th overall title and third consecutive championship, continuing its recent dominance at the top of the conference. The title game is scheduled for Sunday, April 12 at 1:00 PM at McCann Natatorium in Poughkeepsie, New York.
For more information on the championship, 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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