ST. PAUL, Minn — The Division III No. 5-ranked Augustana College Vikings women’s water polo team collected a pair of wins to open Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III play at Macalester College by defeating the No. 7 Austin College Kangaroos, 14-8, and the Washington & Jefferson College Presidents, 16-8.
In game one versus the ‘Roos, the Vikings bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit with four consecutive goals. Four different Vikings notched scores in the opening period, starting with Charlotte Newport‘s power-play goal to pull even. Austin secured the final two tallies of the first quarter to make it a 4-3 game in favor of Augustana after eight minutes of action.
The ‘Roos pulled even with the fist goal of the second quarter, but another scoring run from the Vikings followed. Ocean Akau converted on a penalty shot to reclaim the lead for the Vikings, followed by scores from Newport and Casey Barragan to close out a 3-0 spurt to close out the half and stake Augustana to a 7-4 lead.
In the third quarter, Augie’s lead grew out to as many as six after out-scoring Austin 4-1. The ‘Roos tallied the first point of the quarter, but four straight from the Vikings gave them their largest margin of the game. Four different Vikings scored in the third quarter.
Each team scored three times through the final eight minutes to close out the game with a 14-8 final.
Barragan led the Vikings with four goals in the win, followed by three apiece from both Newport and Anita Rodgers. Susan Palmentera-Reid earned the win in net after stopping 14 shots.
In game two against Washington & Jefferson, Augustana raced out a big lead after an eight-point opening quarter. Barragan began the scoring onslaught with a goal a minute in and ended up scoring three more times to help lead the Vikings to an 8-1 cushion. The lead grew out to as many as nine on two different occasions in the second quarter, with the Vikings adding four to their total on goals from four different players.
Trailing 12-3 at halftime, the Presidents inched closer after a slight 3-2 advantage in the third quarter to move the score to 14-6 with eight minutes left to play. Washington & Jefferson continued its scoring run with the first two goals of the fourth quarter, but the final points went the Vikings’ way to complete the 16-8 win.
A total of 11 Vikings scored in the win, led by Barragan’s four goals. Natalie Abril earned the win in net after earning nine saves.
With the wins, Augustana improves to 10-3 on the season and 2-0 in the CWPA.
information courtesy Augustana College Athletics Communications
