The Marist University water polo team made their first appearance of the season at the Bruno Classic in Providence, Rhode Island this past weekend. The Red Foxes ended the tournament 3-2 starting the season 2-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
To close the 2024 season the Red Foxes fell to Wagner by a devastating one-point gap in the MAAC championship (9-8) finishing the season at the top of the blue conference and an overall winning record (21-16, 9-2 MAAC).
This was not the Red Foxes’ first time watching the Seahawks celebrate as they slowly exited the pool deck. For five consecutive years (2014–2019), the two teams faced off in the championship, with Wagner prevailing each time.
Marist finished the past three seasons with an overall winning record at the top of their conference but have not been able to punch their ticket to the NCAA Water Polo Tournament. They last won the MAAC championship in 2021 defeating VMI 13-10 and sending themselves to Los Angeles, California.
Entering this season the Red Foxes have noticeable holes in the roster with the star captain utility duo Shinae Carrington and Kaylee Brard graduating last spring.
Carrington ended her final season at Marist back-to-back all-MAAC second team, MAAC all-championship team, Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-American Honorable Mention, and dropping a hat trick in her final game as a Red Fox.
Marist entered the Bruno Classic on Friday ranked number 25 in the country with their first game against no. 12 Indiana.
The Red Foxes kept up with the Hoosiers until the half when the score was 5-5. By the end of the third Indiana had pulled ahead 11-6 and Marist never regained the lead, falling to the Hoosiers 14-7.
With time to rest the Red Foxes secured back-to-back wins on Saturday moving to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in MAAC play. Their first game on Saturday was against the University of Redlands. In the first quarter, Marist outscored the Redland Bulldogs 8-0.
Twelve different Red Foxes scored in the dominant 25-2 win to begin Saturday play. Senior center Ella Baumgarten secured her first hat trick of the season.
Baumgarten, who is captain for the third season, kept her hot streak alive in the second game on Saturday scoring five goals against Villanova. The center finished the tournament leading the Red Foxes with nine goals, followed by sophomore and senior attackers Kendell De Beer and Rachel Dean totaling seven goals each.
Marist entered the final day of the Bruno Classic coming off their first MAAC win of the season, defeating Villanova 16-11.
The team’s first game on Sunday was against a familiar ranked opponent, the University of the Pacific. The last time these two teams met in February of last year, the Red Foxes pulled off a stunning one-point upset.
In this year’s matchup, Marist did not gain the lead, trailing by two at the half. The Red Foxes had a scoreless third quarter while the Powercats totaled four goals, two coming from senior Hila Futorian. Futorian concluded the matchup against Marist with a total of five goals.
The second match on Sunday and final game of the classic concluded on a high note for the Red Foxes against La Salle.
Senior Liana Hunt, Junior Paige Naegle, and De Beer all found the back of the net in the first four minutes. Naegle and De Beer finished the matchup with two goals each.
To solidify the team’s lead Naegle and sophomore attack Emily Scheerer scored back-to-back goals trailed by junior utility Makaelee Hansberger who made the score 10-5. Hansberger completed the weekend with five goals, one away from her career season high en route to a 10-6 win.
Preseason All MAAC and preseason co-goalkeeper of the year Inés Sanchéz was strong in net ending the Bruno Classic with 48 goals allowed compared to the 68 points that Marist totalled throughout the weekend.
The Red Foxes will hit the road again this weekend to attend the Hoosier Invite in Indiana. Marist’s first matchup is against fellow MAAC team, no. 18 Wagner College.
Edited by Marley Pope
Photo by Kira Crutcher
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