GROVE CITY, Pa. — Marissa Moreno (Sr., San Diego, Calif./Grossmont) scored five times as Connecticut College outlasted Utica University, 20-15, to claim Ninth Place at the 2022 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Championship hosted by Grove City College at the James E. Longnecker Competition Pool.
The Camels (3-13, 2-6 CWPA Division III East) claim their third victory of the season over the Pioneers (0-11, 0-8 CWPA Division III-East) following regular season CWPA Division III-East Region wins on March 19 (13-6 W at Washington & Jefferson College) and April 10 (12-7 W at Connecticut).
Historically, Connecticut has now placed first (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), second (2018), third (2012), fourth (2017, 2019), fifth (2010), sixth (2011) and now ninth (2022) in 11 CWPA Division III Championship appearances. The Camels did not compete at the event during the past two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic terminating the 2020 season and Connecticut College opting not to play during the 2021 season as a medical precaution.
The Camels never trailed against Utica as Connecticut opened up a 2-0 lead less than two and a half minutes into the contest prior to holding 4-2, 10-5 and 15-11 leads at the conclusion of the first, second and third quarters.
For Connecticut, Maria Sell (Jr., San Mateo, Calif./Aragon) added four goals with Kendall Foley (So., Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake) and Gicel Zuniga (So., Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) both posting three markers. Lien Har (Jr., Orange, Conn./Hopkins School) and Sarah Franco (So., Weston, Conn./Weston) tacked on pairs in support of a 10 save effort by goalie Olivia Fechner-Lewis (Sr., Berkeley, Calif./Berkeley).
Madison West (Fr., Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) led Utica with five goals. Shayla Seymour (Jr., Usbridge, Mass./Blackstone Valley Regional) and Hope Millets (Jr., Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) chipped in four and three scores, respectively, with Kira Seaman (Sr., Fort Edward, N.Y./Hudson Falls), Bailey Simmons (So., Vernon Center, N.Y./Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Terry Kirabo Nagginda (Fr., Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker) each putting away solo strikes.
In the history of the CWPA Division III Championship, Utica has now placed sixth (2014, 2015), seventh (2012, 2013), eighth (2011, 2016, 2017, 2018), ninth (2010, 2019) and 10th (2022).
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| Utica University (0-11, 0-8 CWPA Division III-East) |
2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | – | 15 |
| Connecticut College (3-13, 2-6 CWPA Division III-East) | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | – | 20 |
| Connecticut Goals: | Marissa Moreno (5); Maria Sell (4); Kendall Foley (3); Gicel Zuniga (3); Lien Har (2); Sarah Franco (2) | |||||
| Utica Goals: | Madison West (5); Shayla Seymour (4); Hope Millets (3); Kira Seaman; Bailey Simmons; Terry Kirabo Nagginda | |||||
| Saves: | Connecticut – Olivia Fechner-Lewis (10); Utica – Kim Serio (14) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Connecticut – 3 ; Utica – 3 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Connecticut – 0-for-3 ; Utica – 2-for-3 | |||||
| Sprints: | Connecticut – 3-for-4 (1st, 2nd, 4th) ; Utica – 1-for-4 (3rd) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | YC – Utica (Head coach Amber Gzik, 6:07 left in 4th Q) | |||||
| Officials: | Greg Sanchez; Martin Murray | |||||
Utica College’s Shayla Seymour (#2) and Amelia Laible (#18) defend against Connecticut College
Utica College’s Madison West (#4) lofts a shot as Connecticut College’s Marissa Moreno (#4) tries for a block
Connecticut College’s Kendall Foley (#11)
