LEBANON, Ill. — The Carthage College women’s water polo team opened its 2026 season at the Lischwe Memorial Invitational hosted by McKendree University with losses to the host Bearcats, 18-16, and the University of California-Merced, 11-7, along with a non-conference setback versus defending Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Champion/Division III No. 5-ranked Augustana College, 19-5.
Brenna Carstens led the Firebirds offensively with nine goals on the weekend, while Kira Jacobsen held down the goalkeeping with 10 saves.
On Saturday, February 7, the Firebirds struck first against Augustana via a Mak Werner goal to kick off the 2026 season. The Vikings quickly hit back with five goals of their own and did not look back in pushing ahead 5-1 by the conclusion of the first quarter.
Carstens hit the back of the net in the third quarter to add to the scoresheet. However, the Vikings continued their scoring frenzy into the third and fourth quarters by outscoring the Firebirds 14-3, in the second half to claim a 14-goal victory. Veronica Gut hit the back of the net for her first collegiate goal.
Later in the day, Carthage faced the host Bearcats.
Carstens started the scoring off with back-to-back goals followed by a solo marker from Kamille Graham. The scoring did not stop there with Kiera Crawley, Morrigan Bushroe-Stumpf, Carstens and three other Firebirds pumping in tallies to knot the game at 10-all heading into halftime.
The second half kicked off with back-to-back-to-back Carstens goals, while McKendree fought back to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Carthage responded with strikes by Crawley and Yamila Areizaga (two), but the Bearcats held on for the victory.
The weekend concluded on Sunday, February 8, as UC-Merced capitalized on a slow start by Carthage to acquire a five-goal lead after eight minutes of action.
The Firebirds clawed their way back into the game, however, with some timely stops in the cage from Jacobsen and a goal each from the trio of Grace Steinberg, Areizaga and Carstens to close within 7-3 at the halftime intermission.
The third quarter was all Firebirds as Kamille Graham (two) and Steinberg closed the gap to 7-6). However, the Bobcats picked up where they left off in the first quarter by outscoring Carthage 4-1 – with the lone Firebirds’ strike coming from Veronica Gut – to close out the game and the weekend.
During the course of the weekend, Graham accounted for two assists, four exclusions drawn and a pair of penalty shots drawn versus Augstana. Gut added a goal and an exclusion drawn.
Carstens (seven goals, two assists), Crawley (three goals, four assists) and Jacobsen (four saves, two steals) keyed Carthage against McKendree, while Jacobson (four saves, two steals, one assist) and Steinberg (two goals, one assist, two exclusions drawn, one field block) factored versus UC-Merced.
Information courtesy Carthage College Athletics Communications
