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Women's Water Polo 4/24/2022 8:27:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Posts 11-8 Win over Mercyhurst in Seventh-Place Game; Wiemken Named to All-Tournament Team

FRESNO, Calif. – The Gannon women's water polo team ended the season on a positive note with an 11-8 win over crosstown rival Mercyhurst on Sunday in the seventh-place game at the WWPA Championships. The victory leaves the Golden Knights with a 10-14 record while Mercyhurst up the season at 3-20.

The win over the Lakers was the third of the year for Gannon, although this one came on the West Coast at the Fresno State Athletics Aquatic Center. Like the first two meetings, 10-8 and 12-11 victories, this one was close most of the way.

Gannon never trailed in the contest and the score was tied just once after Gannon scored the first two goals of the match. Julia Kreidinger (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria) opened the scoring on a power play 58 seconds into the contest, and Nicole Wiemken (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon) added a goal at the 5:39 mark, assisted by Kate Baker (Erie, Pa./McDowell). Mercyhurst scored to make it 2-1, but Kreidinger answered with a goal ten seconds later following a pass from Mary Trese Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria). The Lakers knotted the score at 3-3 with back-to-back goals, but Gannon took the lead for good on Baker's goal at 1:51. The lead grew to 5-3 on Kreidinger's third goal of the period on a power play with 41 seconds left in the opening quarter. A late Mercyhurst goal made it 5-4 after eight minutes.

The Gannon lead grew to 7-4 early in the second quarter as Baker and Kreidinger deposited shots into the back of the net in the first two minutes. Each team would score two more goals in the period as Gannon held a 9-6 lead at intermission. Wiemken accounted for both goals, the first on a power play and the second off a feed from Jade Strickland (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill).

The game turned defensive in the third quarter, as neither team could dent the net in a scoreless period. Gannon finally broke the ice a minute into the fourth quarter on a Squeglia goal. Wiemken once again took a feed from Strickland for her fourth goal of the match as the Gannon advantage grew to 11-6. Mercyhurst would score twice in the final three minutes to pull to within three goals.

Wiemken ended up being named to the WWPA All-Tournament second team after contributing four goals on Sunday and 13 goals in the three contests. She was also an all-tournament honoree in 2021. The senior finished with 191 career goals, good for seventh place, one goal shy of fifth place. She ranks sixth in career assists with 90.

Kreeidinger, a redshirt senior, also wraps up an outstanding career. She joined Wiemken with four goals to boost her career total to 129, which ranks ninth. She ended fifth in career assists with 95.

Gannon finished with a 28-24 advantage in shots, while owning s shooting percentage of .393 compared to .333 for the Lakers. Gannon was 2-for-7 on the power play while holding Mercyhurst without a goal in four attempts.

Freshman Molly Sebunia (Erie, Pa./McDowell) started in goal and played the first half, registering three saves. Sydney Klakeg (Santa Barbara, Calif./Choate Rosemary Hall) relieved at halftime and played most of the second half, also recording three saves. With 39 seconds remaining, head coach Shane Unger made sure to insert all of the team's seniors, with Kreidinger going onto goal.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Kate Baker: 2M; Sophomore

#1 Sydney Klakeg: G; Sophomore

#4 Julia Kreidinger: UTIL; Senior; Occupational Therapy

#14 Mary Trese Squeglia: UTIL/2M; Junior

#18 Nicole Wiemken: UTIL/2D; Junior; Chemistry

#1A Molly Sebunia: G; Freshman

#2 Jade Strickland: D; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Kate Baker
: Sophomore
: 2M

#1 Sydney Klakeg
: Sophomore
: G

#4 Julia Kreidinger
: Senior; Occupational Therapy
: UTIL

#14 Mary Trese Squeglia
: Junior
: UTIL/2M

#18 Nicole Wiemken
: Junior; Chemistry
: UTIL/2D

#1A Molly Sebunia
: Freshman
: G

#2 Jade Strickland
: Freshman
: D