NEW LONDON, Conn. — Lucille Moran (So., Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) and Cara Mullery (Fr., Palmetto Bay, Fla./MAST Academy) both scored four times as the Division III No. 10-ranked Macalester College Scots toppled Utica College, 12-3, at Connecticut College’s Jane Cadwell Lott Natatorium during a Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III league weekend.
Macalester jumped out to a 7-0 in the first quarter and never looked back as Oriana Galasso (Fr., Gresham, Ore./Barlow) opened the scoring at 7:43 prior to Moran ticking off natural (7:06) and penalty shot (6:53) strikes to expand the margin to 3-0. Natalie Hoffman (So., Seattle, Wash./Inglemoor) sandwiched a score by Mullery at 6:07 by heaving in shots a 6:27 and 4:37 to make it 6-0 prior to Mullery completing the first quarter scoring at 3:34.
Neither team found the back of the cage again until the final 30 seconds of the second quarter as Ashley Flint (So., Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro) snapped a shutout bid by the Scots with 29 seconds remaining until halftime to move the Pioneers to within 7-1. However, Moran completed a hat-trick at the 15 second marks to make it 8-1 at the break.
Daniella Hannah (Fr., Dalton, Georgia/Northwest Whitfield) responded for Utica 1:10 into the third quarter to move the Pioneers within 8-2, but Mullery wrapped up her own hat-trick at 6:35 and Moran buried a man-up chance at 4:12 to expand the lead to 10-2 through 24 minutes of action.
Jenny Granston (Fr., Boulder, Colo./Boulder) made it 11-2 with three minutes gone in the fourth quarter prior to Krystiana Rehrig (Jr., Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) twirling in a tally to inch Utica back within eight at 11-3 wth 4:37 to go in regulation.
Mullery completed the damage with 55 seconds remaining by pushing in her fourth goal for the 12-3 final.
For Macalester, Hoffman chipped in a pair of markers with Granston and Galasso both notching solo scores.
Hannah, Flint and Rehrig accounted for Utica’s three goals.
