Water Polo Huddle 2025
Noah Barraclough

Women's Water Polo

Water Polo Downed by Marist in MAAC Semifinal

Over the weekend, they earned their first victory in the conference tournament since 2005

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – In their first appearance in the MAAC Water Polo Semifinal since 2005, Villanova was outlasted by the host institution, Marist University, by a score of 9-5.

Anna Painter scored two goals in the contest, totaling four goals across the tournament.

Marist struck twice to start the game, with Riley Hull answering back with 5:20 remaining in the first to start the scoring for VU.

Adrienne Grimes scored to knot things up four minutes later, tallying her second goal in as many days while tying her career high for goals in a season with 13.

Kendell De Beer and Lela McCarroll of the Red Foxes cashed in on four of the next five goals in the match, with Layla Canales adding one with 1:21 left in the first half, to enter intermission with Marist leading 6-4.

The home team scored quickly to open the third stanza, with Painter answering two minutes later.

That goal would be the final one that the Wildcats would score in the event, as Inés Sánchez and the Marist defense held VU scoreless for the final 11:02.

Rachel Stephens stopped 11 shots in net for the second game in a row. The freshman made 22 saves while only allowing 15 goals during the tournament, good for a .594% save percentage across the two games.

Ella Mattocks drew five exclusions and had a career-high two assists.

SENIORS
Amelia Baca, Emma Grabenstetter, Adrienne Grimes, and Emily McKenzie end their careers as the winningest players in program history, being part of 75 wins over their four years with the program.

McKenzie finishes her career 10th in program history in goals, with 181.

LOOKING AHEAD
Head coach Michael Gordon has inked four signees over the season, one at each attacker, center, utility, and goalie.

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Players Mentioned

Amelia Baca

#19 Amelia Baca

Utility
Senior
Emma Grabenstetter

#20 Emma Grabenstetter

Attacker
Senior
Adrienne Grimes

#11 Adrienne Grimes

Center D
Senior
Ella Mattocks

#14 Ella Mattocks

Center
Junior
Emily McKenzie

#16 Emily McKenzie

Utility
Senior
Anna Painter

#7 Anna Painter

Attacker
Junior
Layla Canales

#4 Layla Canales

Attacker
5' 6"
Freshman
Riley Hull

#13 Riley Hull

Attacker
5' 5"
Freshman
Rachel Stephens

#1A Rachel Stephens

Goalie
5' 5"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Amelia Baca

#19 Amelia Baca

Senior
Utility
Emma Grabenstetter

#20 Emma Grabenstetter

Senior
Attacker
Adrienne Grimes

#11 Adrienne Grimes

Senior
Center D
Ella Mattocks

#14 Ella Mattocks

Junior
Center
Emily McKenzie

#16 Emily McKenzie

Senior
Utility
Anna Painter

#7 Anna Painter

Junior
Attacker
Layla Canales

#4 Layla Canales

5' 6"
Freshman
Attacker
Riley Hull

#13 Riley Hull

5' 5"
Freshman
Attacker
Rachel Stephens

#1A Rachel Stephens

5' 5"
Freshman
Goalie