POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — The Brown University women’s water polo team tallied its eighth and ninth wins in its first 10 games of the 2020 season as the Bears topped Mercyhurst University, 13-4, and La Salle University, 13-10, at the Marist College Invitational at McCann Natatorium.
The Bears outscored the Mercyhurst Lakers, 5-0, in the second half on their way to the win in game one before gaining an edge as large as five goals in their victory in game two against the Explorers of La Salle.
“It was good for us to be back in the pool, playing in a competitive game for the first time in three weeks,” said Brown head coach Felix Mercado. “We know that we can continue to make a lot of improvement over the course of this season, but it’s nice to be going home with two more wins.”
Junior Kaitlyn Cook (Los Gatos, Calif.) and freshman Claire Pisani (Redwood City Calif.) each scored a hat trick against Mercyhurst, while junior Carissa Perez (Pico Rivera, Calif.) totaled five points behind three goals and two assists against La Salle.
Against Mercyhurst, the Bears led 8-4 at halftime and then outscored the Lakers, 5-0, in the second half en route to their eighth win in nine games to open the season.
Pisani notched three goals and two steals, while Cook tallied three goals, one assist, and one steal.
Freshman Lily Weiser (Long Beach, Calif.) posted two goals, two assists and a steal, while fellow rookies Katie Dvonch (Seal Beach, Calif.) and Bryn Gioffredi (Laguna Beach, Calif.) each compiled two goals and an assist. Junior Lily Keck (La Jolla, Calif.) chipped in a goal, and freshman Zoe King (Almaden, Calif.) contributed three assists and three steals.
In the cage, senior goalkeeper Lauren Burns (Long Grove, Ill.) came up with three saves and a steal.
The Bears opened the contest with a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter behind goals from Keck, Cook and Weiser.
A goal from Pisani staked Brown to a 4-0 edge early in the second quarter. Two goals from Dvonch and a five-meter penalty goal from Gioffredi gave the Bears a 7-2 advantage later in the frame. A goal from Cook kept Brown up 8-4 at the break.
Pisani netted the only goal of the third quarter as the Bears led 9-4 heading to the final frame. Brown tallied all four of the fourth quarter’s goals as Pisani and Gioffredi both scored and Cook and Weiser each converted five-meter penalties.
Facing La Salle, Perez totaled five points, including a hat trick.
The Bears held a 7-3 lead at halftime, a 9-4 edge in the third quarter, and a 12-8 advantage in the fourth quarter on their way to the win over the Explorers.
Perez registered three goals, two assists, and a steal, while senior Lexi Atwell (La Jolla, Calif.) tallied two goals, an assist and two steals.
Dvonch and King each netted two goals, and fellow rookies Gioffredi and Weiser each posted a goal and two assists. Gioffredi added three steals.
Freshman Linnea Kelly (Newport Beach, Calif.) compiled a goal and an assist, Cook scored a goal, and Keck dished out three assists.
In the cage, sophomore goalie Marley Presiado (Newport Beach, Calif.) blocked five shots.
Brown opened the game with a 2-1 lead at the end of the first quarter behind goals from Perez and Cook.
The Bears continued a 5-0 run as Gioffredi, King, and Dvonch scored to give the Bears a 5-1 lead in the second quarter. Goals from Weiser and Perez pushed the margin to 7-2, and Brown remained ahead 7-3 at halftime.
Consecutive goals from Atwell staked Brown to a 9-4 edge in the third quarter before La Salle used a 3-0 run to move within 9-7. A goal from Perez kept the Bears up 10-7 heading to the fourth quarter.
Markers from Kelly and Dvonch allowed Brown to maintain a 12-8 lead in the fourth quarter, and a tally from King made the score 13-9 prior to the Explorers netting the game’s final goal.
Release courtesy Brown University Athletics Communications
