CLAREMONT, Calif. — The Brown University women’s water polo team topped Division III No. 3-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, 11-7, and fell in overtime to Division III No. 1 Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, 9-8, at Axelrood Aquatics Center and Haldeman Pool, respectively.
The Bears used a 6-1 run to gain separation from the Athenas of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in their second game after forcing overtime in an eventual setback to the Sagehens. On the second day of its eight-day, nine-game West Coast swing, Brown improved to 3-1 on its trip.
Between the two games, juniors McKenna Miller (Danville, Calif.) and Carmen Rosas (Schaumburg, Ill.) each scored five goals, while senior Jessica Heilman (Menlo Park, Calif.) netted four goals. Senior goalie Marisol Dakan (Pasadena, Calif.) made 12 saves against Pomona-Pitzer, and sophomore goalie Lauren Burns (Long Grove, Ill.) turned aside 13 shots versus Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
In the day’s opener, Heilman and Rosas each scored three goals, but Brown fell to Pomona-Pitzer.
Rosas scored the final two goals of regulation to help the Bears force overtime before the Sagehens netted the game-winning goal with 30 seconds left in the second overtime period.
Heilman tallied three ejections drawn, two field blocks, and an assist alongside her hat trick, while Rosas posted two steals to go with her hat trick.
Miller compiled a goal, two assists, three steals, and three ejections drawn, freshman Carissa Perez (Pico Rivera, Calif.) registered three steals and an assist, and sophomore Lexi Atwell (La Jolla, Calif.) netted a goal.
In the cage, Dakan stopped 12 shots.
Heilman netted the Bears’ first three goals as Brown remained within 4-3 of the Sagehens with 6:56 to go in the third quarter. The two teams stood tied at 1-1 at the end of the first quarter while Pomona-Pitzer held a 3-2 lead at the half.
After the hosts pulled ahead 6-3, the Bears closed the third quarter on a 3-1 run to cut the deficit to 7-6 heading to the fourth quarter. Miller and Atwell scored consecutive goals to start the run before Rosas converted with 15 seconds left in the stanza.
Following a Sagehens’ marker, Rosas scored goals with 3:37 and 2:37 left in regulation to tie the score at 8-8 and send the game to overtime. After a scoreless first bonus session, Pomona-Pitzer scored with 30 seconds left in the second extra period to earn the win.
Facing Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Miller scored a game-high four goals to lead Brown in downing the Athenas.
The Bears used a 6-1 run to turn a 3-3 tie in the second quarter into a 9-4 lead in the fourth quarter and maintained at least a three-goal lead the rest of the way against C-M-S.
In support of Miller, Rosas netted two goals with Heilman, juniors Maigrie McDougal (Sacramento, Calif.) and Allison Woo (Arcadia, Calif.), Atwell and freshman Riley Hughes (Evanston, Ill.) posted one goal apiece.
Burns blocked 13 shots to earn the victory.
After Rosas opened the game’s scoring, C-M-S netted two goals to pull ahead 2-1. Atwell and Miller responded with back-to-back goals, pushing the Bears ahead 3-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Following a goal from the hosts, consecutive markers from Rosas and Hughes gave Brown a 5-3 edge with 2:56 to go in the half. A late goal from the Athenas brought the margin to 5-4 at the break.
The Bears notched the only two tallies of the third quarter as goals from Woo and McDougal extended the Brown advantage to 7-4.
Miller netted the fourth frame’s first two goals, completing a 6-1 run for the Bears, as Brown led 9-4 with 5:19 to play. A goal from Heilman kept the visitors up 10-6, and Miller closed the game’s scoring with 1:17 left.
Release courtesy Brown University Athletics Communications
