Wagner and Marist Picked as 2017 Preseason Water Polo Favorites
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The three-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Water Polo Champions, Wagner College and four-time MAAC Water Polo Champions, Marist College, are the 2017 MAAC Water Polo co-preseason favorite, as voted upon by the leagues 8 head coaches. Amanda Amorosa of Marist College was selected as the 2017 Preseason Player of the Year. Emily Riddle of Wagner College was selected as the 2017 Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Seahawks were selected as co-preseason favorites following a season in which they went 12-0 in the MAAC and 29-10 overall. At the 2016 MAAC Water Polo Championship, Wagner defeated Villanova University 11-2 in the semifinals before defeating Marist College 8-5 to win its third consecutive MAAC Water Polo Championship, and sixth in program history. The Seahawks will have Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, Emily Riddle returning for her senior season. Last season, Riddle was second in the MAAC in goals against average (7.31), total saves (212), and ranked third in save percentage (.477). Riddle was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Team along with teammate Kimberly Watson. Watson ranked third in the MAAC with 38 assists last season, and sixth with 73 total points.
Marist College is the co-preseason favorite, along with Wagner College. The Red Foxes were 9-3 in the MAAC last season and 16-18 overall. Amanda Amorosa was unanimously selected to the All-MAAC Preseason Team, and was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. Joining Amorosa on the Preseason All-MAAC Team is the 2016 MAAC Water Polo Rookie of the Year, Katherine Tijerina. Amorosa scored 64 goals and recorded 26 assists, totaling 90 points. Tijerina ranked third in the MAAC in steals (61) and totaled 100 points on 47 goals and 53 assists for the Red Foxes.
Coming in third is Iona College. The Gaels were 8-4 in the MAAC last season and 13-15 overall. Returning for Iona is unanimous Preseason All-MAAC Team selection Hannah Schultz. Schultz was third in the MAAC last season with 81 goals.
Villanova University ranks fourth in the preseason poll. Last season, the Wildcats were 6-6 in the MAAC and 16-18 overall. Dominique Clark returns for her sophomore season and was selected to the preseason All-MAAC Team. Clark scored 51 goals last season for the Wildcats.
Virginia Military Institute comes in fifth in the preseason poll. Last season, VMI finished 3-9 in the MAAC and 10-17 overall. Junior Shelby Barkley was named to the preseason All-MAAC Team. Barkley scored 64 goals, and 17 assists, totaling 81 points.
St. Francis Brooklyn comes in at sixth on the preseason poll. The Terriers were 3-9 last season in MAAC play and finished with an overall record of 10-17.
Siena College finished seventh in the preseason poll after finishing with a 1-10 conference record and a 3-23 overall record.
Rounding out the poll is La Salle University. This will be La Salle’s inaugural season with Water Polo as a varsity sport.
Preseason Poll
|
T1.
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Wagner (4)
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59
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|
T1.
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Marist (4)
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59
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|
3.
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Iona
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50
|
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4.
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Villanova
|
38
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|
5.
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VMI
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31
|
|
6.
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St. Francis Brooklyn
|
23
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7.
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Siena
|
19
|
|
8.
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La Salle
|
9
|
Preseason All-MAAC Team
*Hannah Schultz, Iona
*Amanda Amorosa, Marist
Katherine Tijerina, Marist
Shelby Barkley, VMI
Dominique Clark, Villanova
Emily Riddle, Wagner
Kimberly Watson, Wagner
Preseason Player of the Year
Amanda Amorosa, Marist
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Emily Riddle, Wagner
*Unanimous Selection