POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Looking to upset No.1 seed and 18th-ranked Wagner College, the VMI water polo team fell by an 18-5 score to the Seahawks in the first MAAC Tournament semifinal Saturday at McCann Natatorium in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Consolation … VMI vs. Iona … Sunday, Noon. … ESPN3 ... Live Stats
Championship … Wagner vs. Marist … Sunday, 2 p.m. … ESPN3 ... Live Stats

The Keydets (20-11, 8-6) hoped to earn their first win over Wagner in program history, but the Seahawks had other plans as Erica Hardy scored six goals and Kimberly Watson tallied four to lead Wagner over the Keydets.

With the loss, VMI will play in the consolation match Sunday at noon to face No. 3 seed Iona, which lost to host No. 2 Marist in today's 2 p.m. semifinal. Wagner advances to the title game Sunday at 2 p.m. to face the Red Foxes.

Shelby Barkley scored three goals throughout the match to lead the Keydets while fellow senior Natalie Rivas scored the other two. VMI goalie Isabel French registered eight saves in the loss.

The Seahawks' Elise Begg, Kristy Donkin and Daisy Nankervis each scored a pair of goals to aid Wagner's victory. Wagner logged 33 shots at the VMI net while the Keydets totaled 21. The Seahawks were effective in limiting VMI on powerplay opportunities, holding the Keydets to four of 10 successful attempts.