MOUNT ST. MARY'S VS. VILLANOVA WEEKEND #1
Saturday, March 6th: Saint Francis U, 11:30 a.m. | Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 7th: VMI, 10:30 a.m. | Villanova, 4:30 p.m.
Villanova, Pa. | Villanova Swim Complex
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EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 5, 2021) – Mount St. Mary's women's water polo takes their place as the school's 22
nd active team to play intercollegiate athletics this weekend. The Mount travels to play four games in a pod hosted to Villanova University.
SETTING THE SCENE
The Mount announced the addition of water polo teams in January 2020 and the hiring of head coach
Alyssa Diacono just over a year ago. Over the past 12 months, she has overseen the recruitment of student-athletes to make up the inaugural teams, hired
Justin Vink as an assistant coach, and organized and reorganized the team's maiden schedule – all while navigating the pandemic.
The men's team completed their first season with a record of 5-4 and a third place showing in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference West Region.
2020-2021 MOUNTAINEERS
10 student-athletes make up the initial roster, made up of true freshmen with one graduate student. Many come from the West Coast, with a handful of southerners, a Midwesterner and one Australian. The roster is divided up into goalkeeper
Rebekka Williams; utility players
Madison Szczublewski,
Lauryn Thomas,
Mara Davis,
Lily Pullen, and
Emily Van Kerckhove; 2 meter defenders
Riley Thompson and
Mackenzie Zenk; and drivers
Ana Luisa Cotta and
Toria Peterson.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Saint Francis U is the opening challenger, a preview for upcoming Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) play. The Red Flash finished 6-13 a year ago and are 2-6 this year. Salem rounds out Saturday's play, marking the lone time the teams will face each other. The Tigers are 2-8, with both wins coming against Saint Francis U.
Sunday features the VMI Keydets and the host Wildcats. The Keydets were off to a fantastic 12-1 start in 2020 before COVID-19 cut the season short. Villanova held a 4-14 record when last season ended. Both squads, like the Mount, are making their 2021 debuts.
LOOKING AHEAD
This weekend kicks off 13 regular season games held in March and April. The Mount returns to Villanova for a second pod on the second weekend of March.
