NEW LONDON, Conn. — 2021 and 2022 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Champion and 2023 runner-up/Division III No. 9-ranked Austin College will continue a pattern of never missing the league title game as the Kangaroos topped 2017, 2018 and 2019 CWPA Division III Champion Macalester College, 8-7, in the first semifinal at the 2024 CWPA Division III Championship hosted by Connecticut College at the Jane Cadwell Lott ’36 Natatorium.
Courtesy the victory, Austin (8-10, 6-2 CWPA Division III) avenges a 12-11 loss to the Scots (13-5, 7-1 CWPA Division III) on March 24 in St. Paul, Minn., and earns a spot in the 2024 CWPA Division III Championship title game at 1:30 p.m. Eastern/10:30 a.m. Pacific on Sunday, April 21, versus the winner of a semifinal matching defending CWPA Division III Champion/CWPA Division III regular season champion/No. 5-ranked Augustana College and Washington & Jefferson College.
In addition, due to guaranteeing the program at least a runner-up position in the CWPA Division III Championship field, the ‘Roos lock up a berth to the 2024 USA Water Polo Division III Championship on Saturday-Sunday, May 4-5, at the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Champion or runner-up (if the champion elects not to host). The USA Water Polo Division III Championship is comprised of the top two finishing programs from both the CWPA Division III and SCIAC ranks.
Macalester will compete in the Third Place game on Sunday, April 21, at Noon Eastern/9:00 a.m. Pacific against the loser of the Augustana-W&J semifinal. In the history of the CWPA Division III Championship, the Scots have previously placed first (2017, 2018, 2019), third (2023), fourth (2011, 2013, 2014, 2022), fifth (2012, 2015), sixth (2010) and seventh (2016) with nine semifinal appearances including 2024.
The ‘Roos jumped out to an early lead in the game as Bianca Gallegos (So., Albuquerque, N.M./Manzano) broke the ice with 3:29 left in the first quarter to Austin to 1-0 margin. The Scots stormed back, however, as Jess Palmer-Sammons (So., Half Moon Bay, Calif./Half Moon Bay) put away natural (3:06) and man-up (1:58) strikes to turn the tables prior to Kylee Noble (Sr., Argyle, Texas/Guyer) squaring the squads at two-all with 37 seconds remaining on the clock.
Palmer-Sammons completed a hat-trick at the 6:42 mark of the second quarter by burying her second man-up tally of the afternoon, but McKenna Malone (So., Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound) answered her team’s mayday to rebalance the scoreboard at three-all by converting a six-on-five opportunity with 5:46 until halftime. However, the Scots regained the lead prior to intermission as Palmer-Sammons swished her fourth strike by cashing in a man-up chance with 5:18 until the midway point for a 4-3 scoreboard advantage.
It marked the last time Macalester led in the game.
Following halftime, high school teammates Cory McGrath (Sr., Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus) and goalkeeper Emily Engberson (Sr., Cooper Canyon, Texas/Marcus) took over the game to lead Austin back to the title tilt for the fourth time in as many years.
McGrath balanced the scoreboard at four-all 18 seconds into the the third quarter, Alyssa Ross (Sr., San Jose, Calif./Leland) swished a man-up bid with 7:15 to play in the frame to put the ‘Roos in front to stay at 5-4 and Noble lined in a shot at the 6:26 mark to make it 6-4 in favor of Austin.
Pooja Bucklin (Fr. Palo Alto, Calif./Henry M. Gunn) chipped a goal off the Scots’ deficit prior to the conclusion of the third quarter by slicing in a shot with 2:35 on the clock to move Maclaester within 6-5 heading into the fourth quarter.
A five-meter penalty shot by Ross (7:32) inflated Austin’s lead to 7-5, but man-up scores by Palmer-Sammons (3:26) and Kendall Coney (Jr., League City, Texas/Clear Creek) (2:41) erased Maclaester’s deficit and squared the squads at seven-all.
Needing a last minute goal to clinch another title game berth, McGrath delivered by lacing a shot into the cage with 46 seconds remaining for the game-winning goal and to lock up Player of the Game accolades.
Macalester had a last second chance to even the score and force overtime, but Engberson stymied the Scots in the waning seconds to preserve the win and clinch the ‘Roos fourth consecutive title game appearance.
For Macalster, Palmer-Sammons led all scorers with five goals. Bucklin and Coney both chipped in solo markers, while goalkeeper Jayden Kratt (So., Palo Alto, Calif./Henry M. Gunn) stopped 11 shots.
Across the tank, McGrath, Noble and Ross each accounted for pairs of goals to accompany single strikes by Gallegos and Malone. Engberson finished with 12 saves.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| Division III No. 9 Austin College |
2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | – | 8 |
| Division III No. 7 Macalester College | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | – | 7 |
| Macalester Goals: | Jess Palmer-Sammons (5); Pooja Bucklin; Kendall Coney | |||||
| Austin Goals: | Cory McGrath (2); Kylee Noble (2); Alyssa Ross (2); Bianchi Gallegos; McKenna Malone | |||||
| Saves: | Macalester – Jayden Kratt (11); Austin – Emily Engberson (12) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Macalester – 11 ; Austin – 11 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Macalester – 4-for-11 ; Austin – 4-for-11 | |||||
| Sprints: | Macalester – 4-for-4 ; Austin – 0-for-4 | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | YC: Austin head coach Mark Lawrence (6:42 left in 2nd Q) | |||||
| Officials: | Martin Murray, Joe Peila | |||||
Austin College’s Bianca Gallegos (#2) defends Macalester College’s Jess Palmer-Sammons (#12)
Austin College’s Ashley Chand (#5) and Macalester College’s Kendall Strauss (#18)
Macalester College’s Jess Palmer-Sammons (#12) attempts to get around Austin College’s Bianca Gallegos (#2)
Austin College’s Cory McGrath (#19) unleashes a shot against Macalester College’s Jess Palmer-Sammons (#12)
