LEWISBURG, Pa. — George Washington University women’s water polo held off Saint Francis University,10-9, and fell to Brown University, 11-7, to start a Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) league weekend at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.
Alana Ponce totaled a team-high six goals over the two games and also led the Buff and Blue with nine saves on a day they split duties in net with goalkeeper Samantha Runyon sidelined.
Against Saint Francis, Ponce scored all four of her goals in the second half to power the Colonials.
After Saint Francis tied it at six midway through the third quarter, Ponce ran off three straight scores. The sophomore’s goal in the opening minute of the fourth made it 9-6.
Ponce’s final goal answered back-to-back tallies from Saint Francis, pushing the lead to 10-8 with 3:02 left. The Red Flash were able to pull within a goal about a minute later, but the Colonials held the score there to close out the victory.
Two weeks after scoring a buzzer-beater to take down Saint Francis at home in the Smith Center Pool, Ponce again starred against the Red Flash, making five saves in addition to her team-high goal total.
Jaleh Moaddeli notched a goal, two assists and a team-high five steals in the victory, while Katherine Atherton set a career high with four helpers. Hannah Hathaway and Kira Bruno scored twice versus the Red Flash with Allison DeCicco also finding the net.
Juliette Belanger also saw time in net for the Buff and Blue and recorded three saves.
After falling behind by five goals early in the second half against Brown, the Colonials responded with three straight scores to close the gap but couldn’t complete the comeback against the Bears.
Brown built its lead with a 5-0 run between the second and third quarters before goals from Moaddeli, Ponce and Belanger helped GW pull within 8-6 with 5:42 left. Brown countered, though, notching back-to-back scores over the next 90 seconds to restore the cushion.
Ponce and Belanger netted two goals apiece for the Colonials, while Moaddeli posted a goal, two assists and two steals. Atherton and Bruno also scored in the opener.
Ponce (four saves), Moaddeli (one save) and Belanger (one save) shared netminding duties against the Bears.
Information courtesy George Washington University Athletics Communications
