Water Polo Ends Record-Breaking 2025 Season – The Villanovan

This past weekend’s run to the semifinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament marked the end of a record-breaking season for the Villanova women’s water polo team (21-12 overall, 7-5 Big East). 

On Friday, April 25, Villanova beat Iona College, 7-2, in the first round, before losing to Marist University, 9-5, in the semifinals at the McCann Natatorium in Poughkeepsie, NY.

The Wildcats made a statement right away. For the first time since 2005, Villanova moved to the semifinals with a thrilling victory over Iona in the first round. 

In the win, junior center Ella Mattocks, freshman attacker Riley Hull and junior attacker Anna Painter scored two goals apiece. Freshman goalkeeper Rachel Stephens held down the defense with 11 saves.

The victory over Iona solidified the team’s place in program history, while Villanova’s poised and aggressive play demonstrated its development over the course of the season.

The semifinal matchup with Marist on Saturday turned out to be tougher. The game was within reach thanks to Villanova’s gritty defense, but Marist’s explosive offensive play decided the final outcome.

“This season has meant so much to us,” head coach Michael Gordon said. “All the great successes that we have had this whole season have really put even more of a spark into everybody and to help motivate them to work even harder.”

Despite ending Villanova’s tournament run, the weekend marked a huge accomplishment for the program under head coach Michael Gordon.

The 2025 water polo season has been historic across the board for Villanova. Under Gordon’s direction, Villanova won two ranked games, against No. 21 Brown and No. 22 Marist, during the regular season and advanced to the MAAC Championship tournament for the first time since 2016. 

The squad scored 431 goals in a single season, breaking the program record. The Wildcats were nationally ranked in the CWPA and ACWPC National Polls. 

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference recognized the Wildcats with individual honors on Wednesday.

Villanova’s five individual MAAC honors this season set a new program record, demonstrating the depth and skill of the team. For the first time since 2014, a Villanova duo was selected to the all-MAAC Second Team, with Mattocks and Hull receiving the honors.

Mattocks had an outstanding season on both ends of the pool. She drew 56 exclusions, scored 41 goals and provided 17 assists. Mattocks’ 100th career goal versus La Salle earlier this year was a significant milestone, putting her in the company of greats in the program’s record books. She now holds the sixth-highest ranking in Villanova history in that area, with 144 career exclusions drawn, and she has one more season to play.

In Hull’s first-year performance, she became the first player in Villanova history to win MAAC Rookie of the Year, in addition to joining Mattocks on the All-MAAC Second Team. 

“Earning this award was such an honor,” Hull said. “I could not have done it without the great team we had this year and the support from every single member of the team all year long.”

With 78 goals, Hull broke the rookie scoring record, which had been set by current assistant coach Kaysie Stuba in 2019, with 76 goals. Hull was also in the top 10 of the program in sprints won, with 41, and exclusions drawn, with 65, scoring 114 points overall and dishing out 36 assists.

The MAAC Defensive Player of the Year award went to senior center defender Adrienne Grimes. After missing the 2023-24 season due to a shoulder injury, Grimes returned to lead Villanova’s defense with a commanding presence. She contributed 25 offensive assists and recorded 16 steals and 16 field blocks. The Wildcats’ defensive success throughout the season was largely due to her leadership in the pool.

Gordon received the MAAC Coach of the Year as the final honor, becoming the first Villanova coach to win this award since 2004. Under his leadership, the Wildcats went 18-1 at home, accumulating 41 wins in two seasons and solidifying their position as a rising force in the MAAC.

“It means a lot [to win coach of the year],” Gordon said. “It’s a lot of hard work, hours and time that has gone into it and it feels good to get that recognition from my peers.”

The 2025 Villanova women’s water polo team leaves a legacy of growth, success, and hope for the future despite finishing the season in the semifinals. The Wildcats have laid a solid foundation for the upcoming years with the return of numerous important players and the program’s ongoing momentum.