BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Carthage College water polo team opened the 2025 season with losses to No. 18 the University of California-Santa Barbara, 23-0, the University of California-Merced, 12-8, No. 16 California State University-Northridge, 21-3, and McKendree University, 15-7, at the 2025 Indiana Classic hosted by Indiana University.
Facing UC-Santa Barbara on Saturday, January 25, the Firebirds took 13 shots on the Gauchos – including five scoring attempts by Mak Werner. Rylee McGee collected five saves in the loss.
Taking on UC-Merced, Werner scored twice in the first quarter before Xiomara Trejo scored two goals and Werner tacked on another in the second quarter. Kiera Crawley and Yamila Areizaga scored in the third period, while Kira Jacobsen led the Firebirds in goals in the fourth quarter.
The Firebirds took 20 shots on the Bobcats as Werner led the Firebirds in shots with six and Crawley dished out a pair of assists.
McGee collected eight saves.
On Sunday, January 26, Grace Steinberg led the Firebirds in goals in the first quarter against CSUN.
Sarah Lowery scored once in the third quarter and McGee lined in a fourth quarter shot to account for the remainder of Carthage’s offense.
The Firebirds attempted 21 shots on the Matadors with Werner leading the way with six. Areizaga led in assists with one. McGee collected 10 saves in goal.
In the team’s weekend final versus McKendree, Areizaga scored in the first quarter, Morrigan Bushroe deposited a shot in the second quarter and Firebirds had two goals in the third quarter by Lowery and Bushroe. Trejo, Steinberg and Faith Harris capped off their team’s offense in the fourth quarter.
McGee recorded 23 saves on the weekend and Werner led the team in shots with 17. Crawley led the team in assists with two.
Release courtesy Carthage College Athletics Communications
