NEW LONDON, Conn. — Gigi Sandull (So., Kenilworth, N.J./Union County Vocational-Technical School) scored four times to receive accolades as the Player of the Game as host Connecticut College extinguished the Firebirds of Carthage College, 11-8, in the Fifth Place game of the 2024 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Championship hosted by the Camels at the Jane Cadwell Lott ’36 Natatorium.
Connecticut (10-7, 4-4 CWPA Division III) adds a second Fifth Place finish to the program’s legacy following prior first (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), second (2018), third (2012), fourth (2017, 2019, 2023), fifth (2010), sixth (2011) and ninth (2022) marks.
The runner-up at the inaugural CWPA Division III Championship in 2010, Carthage (5-14, 3-5 CWPA Division III) takes Sixth Place for the institution’s best finish at the CWPA Division III Championship since taking Fourth Place in 2021. The Firebirds previously placed second (2010), third (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), fourth (2013, 2019, 2021), fifth (2011, 2012), seventh (2022) and eighth (2023).
Connecticut gained the early lead in the game as Sandull stuffed home a shot 27 seconds into the game to make it 1-0 with 7:33 left in the first quarter. Alyssa Sayatovic (Sr., Berwyn, Ill./Fenwick Hill) answered for the Firebirds to burn the Camels with a man-up strike at 7:04 to match Sandull and deadlock the squads at one-all after eight minutes of action.
Carthage appeared to begin pulling away in the dawning moments of the second quarter as Yamila Areizaga (So., Chicago, Ill./Lincoln Park) (7:14) and Victoria Hodges (Sr., Oxford, Mich./Lake Orion) (5:51, penalty shot) converted early chances to move the visitors out in front 3-1.
Brooke Brandenburger (So., Sacramento, Calif./Christian Brothers) chipped a goal off Connecticut’s deficit at 5:36 before Grace Steinberg (So., Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) zipped home another strike for Carthage with 4:40 until halftime to return the spread to a pair at 4-2.
Ainsley Cornwall (So., San Mateo, Calif./Aragon) and Emma Luna (So., Wahiawa, Hawaii/Punahou School) erased the deficit by swishing shots at 3:04 and 2:06, respectively, to square the squads at four-all.
Carthage reclaimed the lead as Sayatovic converted a six-on-five opportunity at 1:10 prior to Cornwall drilling in a natural tally with 41 ticks left on the clock for a five-all tie entering halftime.
Sandull advanced Connecticut in front for the first time since the opening minute of the contest by starting the scoring in the third quarter with another strike at the 4:28 mark. Sayatovic responded at 4:12, but the Camels humped their way to a 9-6 lead by the conclusion of the frame as Luna (2:58, penalty shot), Cornwall (2:22, man-up) and Sandull (1:24) delivered drama with back-to-back-to-back scores.
Sandull further padded the lead in the first minutes of the fourth quarter by racking up her fourth goal with 4:59 left in regulation.
Kyle Hemming (Sr., Huntington Beach, Calif./Huntington Beach) and Sayatovic attempted to reinvigorate the Carthage offense by accounting for even-strength (1:45) and man-up (1:20) goals, respectively, to shrink the Camels’ margin down to 10-8. However, Brandenburger drove home the final nail at 1:11 for the 11-8 final score.
Sayatovic led the Firebirds with four goals, while Areizaga, Hodges, Steinberg and Hemming each accounted for single scores. Goalkeeper Ella Selman (So., Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) stopped 19 shots in taking the loss.
Sandull (four), Cornwall (three), Brandenburger (two) and Luna (two) combined for the entirety of Connecticut’s offense to aid an eight save effort by netminder Maddie Baybeck (Fr., Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer).
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| Carthage College |
1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | – | 8 |
| Connecticut College | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | – | 11 |
| Connecticut Goals: | Gigi Sandull (4); Ainsley Cornwall (3); Brooke Brandenburger (2); Emma Luna (2) | |||||
| Carthage Goals: | Alyssa Sayatovic (4); Yamila Areizaga; Victoria Hodges; Grace Steinberg; Kylie Hemming | |||||
| Saves: | Connecticut – Maddie Baybeck (8) ; Carthage – Ella Selman (19) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Connecticut – 11 ; Carthage – 5 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Connecticut – 1-for-5 ; Carthage – 4-for-11 | |||||
| Sprints: | Connecticut – 2-for-4 (1st, 2nd) ; Carthage – 2-for-4 (3rd, 4th) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | YC – Connecticut (Head coach Matt Anderson, 2:04 left in 1st Q) | |||||
| Officials: | Joe Peila, Martin Murray | |||||
Carthage College’s Grace Steinberg (#11) attempts to shoot over Connecticut College’s Gigi Sandull (#4)
Carthage College’s Emily Steingard (#3)
Connecticut College’s Emma Luna (#9) prepares to shoot as Carthage College’s Yamila Areizaga (#6) defends
