LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Connecticut College women’s water polo team kicked off its three-game West Coast swing with a 7-6 victory at Division III No. 10-ranked Occidental College at the De Mandel Aquatics Center.
A goal by Gigi Sandull (Kenilworth, N.J.) put the Camels on top with only 40 seconds left in the contest. Conn’s defense provided one final stop in the closing seconds, blocking the Tigers’ last-ditch shot attempt to secure the victory.
Seven Camels scored in the game, led by a goal and two assists from Maria Sell (San Mateo, Calif.). Ainsley Cornwall (San Mateo, Calif.) also supplied a goal and an assist on the afternoon.
Occidental went up 1-0 midway through the opening quarter, but the Camels responded with back-to-back tallies by Cornwall and Lien Har (Orange, Conn.) – both off assists from Sell – to pull in front. The Tigers added a goal later in the period to send the game into the second tied at 2-2.
Brooke Brandenburger (Sacramento, Calif.) supplied the only goal of the second stanza, skipping a shot past the Occidental goalie at the 6:13 mark. The Camels led 3-2 at the break and added to the margin in the second half. Sell notched a goal less than a minute into the third quarter, and Melia Lorch (Encinitas, Calif.) later sniped the top-right corner to give Conn its biggest lead at 5-2.
Occidental scored with six seconds left in the third quarter and rode the momentum in the fourth. The Tigers scored three times in the first three minutes of the period to grab a 6-5 lead with 5:03 to play.
Conn regained its composure thanks to a power play goal by Emma Luna (Wahiawa, Hawaii) that tied the game with 4:12 remaining. The first year, who was tabbed Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) co-Rookie of the Week on March 6, sneaked a shot inside the near post from the right side.
With under a minute to go, the Camels set up for their final offensive possession and found Sandull in front of the goal. She rose from the water for a quick pull into the top-right corner, putting Conn back on top for good.
Release courtesy Connecticut College Athletics Communications
