UTICA, NY - The Utica University water polo team is set to travel to New London, Connecticut this weekend for four Collegiate Water Polo Association matches at Connecticut College. On April 9, the Pioneers will take on Penn State Behrend at 12:15 p.m. before a 6 p.m. contest against Grove City College. The following day on April 10, the team will go up against Washington & Jefferson College at 11:45 a.m. and Connecticut College at 3 p.m.
Follow Along: Each of the four matches will be live streamed through
https://www.nsnsports.net/colleges/connecticut-college/.
Last Time Out: The Pioneers suffered a 13-3 loss to Washington & Jefferson College and a 17-4 loss to Penn State Behrend at W&J on March 20 in Collegiate Water Polo Association action. W&J found the board early and often, putting up 10 goals between the first and second quarter combined. The Pioneers scored twice in the third quarter however, W&J matched their goal total over the second half, 3-3, to take the 13-3 win.
Shayla Seymour (Uxbridge, MA/Blackstone Valley Regional),
Kelly Waryncia (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and
Bailey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) recorded goals for Utica while
Madison West (Malone, NY/Franklin Academy ) assisted on two of them.
Hope Millets (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) and
Amelia Laible (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot) also led the team with three steals.
Kim Serio (Lakeville, NY/Livonia) recorded six saves in goal as well. After a six-goal first quarter by Behrend, Utica scored twice in the second while Behrend chalked up five more for an 11-2 lead halfway through. The Pioneers were bested 6-2 in the second half as they fell to Behrend 17-4. West scored twice for the Pioneers while Seymour recorded one goal on two shots and
Sara Kuiken (Valley Falls, NY/Tamarac) scored on her only attempt.
Kira Seaman (Fort Edward, NY/Hudson Falls) led the team with two assists while in the cage, Serio made eight saves.
Spread the Wealth: In all, eight Pioneers have recorded at least one goal over the team's first four matches.
Amelia Laible (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot) leads the unit with four while
Madison West (Malone, NY/Franklin Academy ) and
Bailey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) have three each thus far. Liable was responsible for three of the team's five goals against Grove City on Mar. 19.
Here to Assist: There have also been five different members of the team to record an assist this season. West owns the team lead with eight, six more than anyone else on the team.
Alyssa Morley (Oswego, NY/Oswego) and
Kira Seaman (Fort Edward, NY/Hudson Falls) are tied for second on the team with two assists each while
Shayla Seymour (Uxbridge, MA/Blackstone Valley Regional) and Laible have recorded one each.
The Opposition: Penn State Behrend is currently 4-14 overall and 2-2 in CWPA play. The team has gone 1-3 over its last four matches with its lone win coming over Grove City College, 9-4, on Mar. 26. Grove City currently has a 4-7 overall mark and is 3-1 in the CWPA. Like Behrend, Grove City is 1-3 over its last four matches thanks to an 11-0 win over W&J in non-league play on Mar. 26. W&J will take a 6-5 overall record and a 4-0 mark in the CWPA into its match with Utica on Saturday. After sweeping CWPA opponents from Mar. 19-20, the team has split its last four with one of its losses coming to No. 2 California Lutheran on Mar. 23. The host for this weekend, Connecticut College, is 1-8 overall and 1-3 in the CWPA. Like the Pioneers, Conn. College will play its first matches since each of the five teams met from Mar. 19-20.
Up Next: Utica will honor its seniors on April 14 when the team takes on Hamilton College at 6:30 p.m. from the Utica University Pool. Following the team's match against Hamilton, the Pioneers will prepare for the Collegiate Water Polo Association Championships which will be hosted by Grove City from April 21-23.
