April 14, 2013
Coming into the regular season finale against Villanova, the Siena Water Polo team knew exactly what they needed: a victory over the Wildcats by two more goals. But the Saints could not pull it off, as Villanova clinched the final spot in the MAAC Championships with an 11-10 overtime win against Siena.
In the finale, Siena (9-18, 3-10 MAAC) trailed by as many as three goals in the third quarter and by two with just under seven minutes to go.
Stephanie Bundas and Melanie Boehrig tallied back-to-back goals just 30 seconds apart to tie the game at seven. Lea Allen would give the Saints the one point lead with a score with 1:35 remaining.
The Wildcats (8-26, 5-8 MAAC) took advantage of a Siena ejection when Julia Penkal tied the game with 1:21 to go.
Siena would elect to go into overtime and tied the game with 2:43 to go in the second extra period after another score by Allen. But Villanova would tally the final to goals to secure a spot in Poughkeepsie for a shot at the MAAC title.
Rebecca Robinson led the way on the defensive front with four steals while Madeline Hurley collected 17 saves and tied Jacqueline Verdon with a team-high two assists.
The finale was the second of the day for the Saints who lost 15-6 to Iona in the opener.
Robinson led the way for the Saints with two goals and Kimi Chavez added one in the fourth. Boehrig picked up a team-high four steals and three assists. Stephani Pouder added eight stops in cage.
Allen added six goals on the final day, putting her season total to 74, just ten shy of breaking the all-time single season record. The 74 goals puts her third in that category and she also finishes the season in the top-five in shooting percentage.
Siena's season ends with just nine wins, only the second time in the last six year that they did not reach double digits in wins.
