EMMITSBURG, Md. (April 26, 2024) – Junior
Beatrice Vieira came through by scoring a whip around, behind-the-back goal with six seconds on the clock as Mount St. Mary's women's water polo defeated LIU, 9-8, to advance in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship. The victory is the program's first postseason win.
The game-winner caps off a hat trick for Vieira who led the Mount in scoring.
Ana Luisa Cotta and
Anna Kegel were multi-goal scorers as well. Kegel added three steals – part of 13 takeaways for the team. But the star of the defensive effort was goalie
Olivia Fernie, roping off seven saves including a penalty stoppage, and thwarting some key 6-on-5 chances for the Sharks.
After LIU scored the first goal of the contest, the Mountaineers responded with the ensuing three scores. A couple late tallies from the Sharks ended a 1-for-12 start for the favorites and forced a tie game at the break.
The second half was airtight throughout with both teams answering the other. Goals by Kegel and Vieira answered the Sharks' efforts in the third period. Cotta put the Mount in front to start the fourth quarter and LIU retorted with a pair to go back up 7-6. Kegel delivered the equalizer with 2:21 remaining, followed by Vieira for an 8-7 Mount lead with 1:30 left. It took 14 seconds for LIU to tie the game again, and both defenses locked in until the Mount grabbed hold of the final possession with 19 seconds left. A timeout set up a back-and-forth exchange between Cotta and Vieira, leaving the junior one-on-one with the center and enough room to polish off the winning goal.
For LIU, the defeat ends hope for a back-to-back MAAC title run and was their first loss to a team outside the top 25 this season. The Sharks finish the year at 22-7.
Next up for the Mountaineers is top-seeded Wagner in the semifinals. The Seahawks come into the matchup undefeated in the MAAC and 26-4 for the season. Gametime is Saturday, April 27 at 1 PM from the McCann Natatorium in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Mount St. Mary's 9, LIU 8
Team 1 2 3 4
Mount St. Mary's 2 1 2 4
LIU 1 2 2 3
Goals: Vieira 3, Kegel 2, Cotta 2, Radaelli 1, Lock 1
Saves: Fernie 7
