GROVE CITY, Pa. — Wittenberg University’s Grace McLaughlin (Fr., Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) and Emma Menjivar (Jr., Moreno Valley, Calif./Canyon Springs) combined for 14 goals in the Tigers’ opening games of the 2021 season as the team downed Grove City College, 20-11, in Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III action and dropped a 17-5 contest to Division II Mercyhurst University, 17-5.
Facing the host Wolverines of Grove City in the day’s opening matchup, Wittenberg fell behind 1-0 (7:37), 2-1 (6:34) and 3-2 (5:26) in the opening moments of the first quarter, but rallied back to pull ahead to stay at 4-3 prior to the close of the opening frame.
Ahead 5-3 with 5:43 left in the second quarter and later holding a narrow 5-4 margin with 4:15 on the clock, Wittenberg pulled ahead to double-up Grove City 8-4 with 2:39 remaining until the break.
Holding a 10-5 lead by halftime, Wittenberg kept the Wolverines in check throughout the third quarter as the lead swayed from six (11-5, 7:37), down to four (11-7, 5:23), back to five (12-7, 5:07), down to four (12-8, 4:12) and finally to six (14-8, 31 seconds).
Wittenberg put the contest out of reach in the dawning minutes of the fourth quarter as the team capped off a 6-0 run with strikes at 7:15, 6:02, 4:06 and 3:19 to build the gap between the two squads to 10 at 18-8.
The Tigers and Wolverines traded scoring shots from there as the margin fell and rose from 18-9, 19-9, 19-10, 20-10 and finally 20-11.
McLaughlin led the way with six goals, while Menjivar added four.
Reese Trauger (So., Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) keyed Grove City with eight goals, while Michelle Danley (So., Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) and Tia Kannel (So., York, Pa./Central York) punched in two and one, respectively.
Facing Mercyhurst, Wittenberg snagged a quick 1-0 lead courtesy a tally by McLaughlin with 6:09 remaining in the first quarter, but the Lakers pulled ahead 2-1 by the conclusion of the opening eight minutes and held an 8-2 lead by halftime.
The margin continued to grow in the second half as Mercyhurst outscored Wittenberg 6-3 and 3-0 in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, on the way to a 12-goal victory.
For the Tigers, McLaughlin and Menjivar both found the back of the cage twice to accompany a solo marker by Kiersten Heverly (Jr., Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School).
Maddie Nye netted a game-high five goals for Mercyhurst in the win with Sara Marin and Cassie Anderson also tacking on hat-tricks.
