Box Score BERKELEY, Calif. --- Biola Women's Water Polo made its second appearance at the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships on Wednesday evening at UC Berkeley. The opening round matchup against Wagner College was a battle with plenty of offense. The final score of 15-14 favored the Seahawks, ending Biola's 2024 campaign.

The Eagles polished off an impressive season on Wednesday evening. BU nabbed its second-straight WWPA crown and its second-straight trip to the nationals stage to face off against the 17th-ranked Wagner Seahawks.

Nothing separated the two teams through one period of play. The attack was on point with 10 combined goals for a 5-5 tie through eight minutes of action. Rachel Spadt was the spark in the early going with two goals in the opening two minutes. Despite Wagner jumping ahead 4-2, three different Eagles scored in the final three minutes of the first to knot the game at five.

The back-and-forth continued into the second stanza. Lizzy Birch and Lily Wolfe each answered a goal from the Seahawks to keep the scoreboard locked at 7-7. WC finally staved off the Eagles responses with a two-goal lead that would hold through to the halftime break.

Out of the break, Wagner kept up the pressure and built a four-goal lead at 12-8. 

BU was not out of it yet, as Stephanie Rodriguez beat the goalie for the team's ninth goal just nine seconds after the Seahawks took their largest lead of the day. Spadt logged her third goal of the contest before the third quarter buzzer, bringing the game to 13-10 with one period remaining.

The clock kept ticking but the Eagles continued to find answers. Maria Roldan Gonzalez dented the twine for two even strength goals before the five-minute mark in the fourth. With 2:37 remaining, Wagner looked to put Biola away with a breakaway score for a two-goal lead.

Spadt took it upon herself on the very next possession, walking the ball down and taking a long distance look at the goal. The beautiful skip shot got past the goalie, putting Biola within one once again at 15-14.

A power play for the Eagles and a five-meter penalty for the Seahawks both came up empty, leaving the game with under a minute to go with just one goal separation. Wagner held the ball for its final possession, leaving the Eagles one second to tie the game and force overtime. 

Alicia Fregoso got the ball out of the timeout and took the final hope heave. The big shot hit the corner of the cage, finishing the game at 15-14 for Wagner.

Spadt and Roldan Gonzalez led the offense with four goals apiece. Spadt's four scores moved her total to six between her two appearances at the nationals tournament.

The key distributors on Wednesday were Veralie Naranjo and Birch. The duo tallied a trio of assists, each.

Fregoso logged all 32 minutes in the cage, picking up 10 saves on the night.

Another historic season came to a close for the Biola Women's Water Polo Squad, as the team piled on 14 wins, a conference title, and a 2024 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships appearance in 2024.