ORANGE, Calif. — The Division III No. 6-ranked Macalester College women’s water polo team fell at Division III No. 3 Chapman University, 16-13. The Scots move to 6-6 on the season, while the Panthers improve to 6-9.
The first quarter was a close affair for the two teams. Just over a minute into the match, junior Jess Palmer-Sammons (Half Moon Bay, Calif./Half Moon Bay) pried the lid from the net to notch the first score of the game. The advantage was temporary, though, as the Panthers responded with a goal of their own and emerged on top after a series of scores to lead 3-2 headed into the second quarter.
Senior Kendall Coney (League City, Texas/Clear Creek) powered home a goal to tie the game two minutes into the second quarter. Although Palmer-Sammons measured a quick response to the subsequent Chapman goal, the Panthers managed to create separation headed into halftime with a 4-0 run.
While Coney and senior Olivia Dimka (Denton, Texas/John H. Guyer) each scored in the third quarter, Chapman continued to roll as the second half opened to lead 14-6 lead through 24 minutes of action.
In the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, Macalester came alive. First year Anna Gaisser (Seattle, Wash./Ingraham) led the charge, scoring just over half a minute into the fourth quarter. Her score sparked a 6-1 Scots run to bring Macalester within three points with 2:25 to play.
The gap proved too much for Mac to surmount, however, as both teams went scoreless until the last 16 seconds By then, it was too little too late for the Scots. Despite a game-high seven point quarter, Macalester fell to the Panthers.
Palmer-Sammons led her squad with three goals and an assist. Gaisser followed with two points and two assists of her own. Coney (two), junior Alana Nadolski (Kentwood, Mich. East Kentwood) (two), junior Kendall Strauss (Round Rock, Texas Round Rock) (two), Dimka and sophomore Hannah Fasi (Honolulu, Hawaii Iolani School) accounted for the remainder of Macalester’s offense.
Junior goalkeeper Jayden Kratt (Palo Alto, Calif./Henry M. Gunn) logged 11 saves and a steal.
Information courtesy Macalester College Athletics Communications
