ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Carthage College women’s water polo team started their season at the Macalester College Invitational by finishing 1-3 with a victory over the California Institute of Technology, 12-10, and losses to the Virginia Military Institute, 21-6, Ottawa University (Ariz.), 18-2, and Division III No. 9 Augustana College, 19-7.
Against Caltech on Saturday, February 18, Alyssa Sayatovic and Morrigan Stumpf-Brushoe staked the Firebirds to a 2-0 lead prior to the Beavers getting on the board. Katlynn LaGrone pushed the lead to 3-1, but Caltech scored with one second left in the first quarter to shrink the margin to 3-2.
Another goal from LaGrone in the second quarter returned the lead to a pair, but the Beavers tallied four goals until another goal from Stumpf-Brushoe prior to halftime knotted the contest at six-all.
In the third quarter, Caltech scored before Yamila Areizaga responded with 59 seconds left to once again even the damage.
Goals from Victoria Hodges and Grace Steinberg started the fourth quarter. After the Beavers scored, Carthage scored four-straight goals as the Firebirds held on for a 12-10 win.
In Carthage’s second game on February 18, the Virginia Military Institute scored six goals before Steinberg put the Firebirds on the scoreboard.
Areizaga added two goals for Carthage to end the first quarter.
However, the Keydets tallied five goals in the second quarter and two more in the third frame to pull away until Stumpf-Brushoe, Brenna Carstens and LaGrone found the back of the cage in the fourth quarter to account for the remainder of the Firebirds scoring in a 21-6 defeat.
On Sunday, February 19, Ottawa jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the start of the second quarter.
Areizaga and Sayatovic notched goals to move Carthage back to within 7-2, but an offensive onslaught by the Spirit was too much to overcome in an 18-2 loss.
In Carthage’s final game of the weekend, Carthage pulled even with 2022 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Championship runner-up Augustana College in a non-conference game as LaGrone pumped in a first quarter strike.
The Vikings pushed ahead with four goals until two tallies by Carstens and Steinberg made it 5-3.
Augustana scored five more markers to close out the second quarter for a 10-3 score heading into halftime.
Carstens registered her second goal of the game, while Areizaga got in the score column with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter. Sarah Lowery got the Firebirds going in the fourth quarer, then less than two minutes after, Areizaga scored, but the Vikings rolled to a 17-7 victory.
Overall, Stumpf-Brushoe and Areizaga both contributed six goals during the weekend, while LaGrone (four), Carstens (three) and Steinberg (three) also posted three or more scores.
Information courtesy Carthage College Athletics Communications
