SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Division III No. 5-ranked Augustana College women’s water polo team picked up two more wins at the Macalester Invitational as the Vikings earned a 12-9 victory over Carthage College prior to posting a 13-6 defeat of host/Division III No. 8 Macalester.
In game one, the Firebirds took the early lead after scoring the first three goals versus Carthage. Emma Blezien found the back of the net at 4:41, getting Augie on the board. The Firebirds collected two more goals in the first quarter to lead 5-1 after the opening eight minutes of play.
At 6:57 in the second quarter, Anais Jones tallied a successful shot. Two minutes later, Sofia Boccalatte scored, and Waiahuli Akau tallied another marker to get the Vikings within one at 5-4. With four seconds remaining in the first half, Blezien scored a penalty goal to balance the scoreboard at five-all entering the halftime break.
Returning to action, Augie put up two quick points with shots by Anita Rodgers and Jersey Merrick to overtake Carthage for a 7-5 lead. The Firebirds got within one, but a goal by Blezien put the Vikings ahead by two once again. Both teams traded shots before Carthage found the back of the net with nine seconds remaining in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Jones pushe Augie ahead by two (10-8) and Blezien converted another shot before the Firebirds collected one of their own. Akau notched the final goal of the game to seal a 12-9 victory.
Blezien led the team with four goals, while Jones and Akau tallied two apiece. In goal, Susan Palmentera-Reid saved two shots.
In game two, Macalester scored first, but Augie followed with one of their own from Merrick. Both teams added points – including another marker by Merrick – to the scoreboard in the first to establish a two-all tie after eight minutes of action.
Jones scored the first goal of the second quarter before Merrick collected her third goal with 6:50 on the clock to stretch the gap to two. At the four-minute mark, the teams traded shots with Carli Udovich finding the back of the net for Augustana. In the final minute of the first half, the Vikings tallied two more goals to create a 7-3 gap entering the halftime break.
In the second half, the Scots grabbed the first goal before Augie followed with two from Braelyn Hill and Akau. Two minutes later, Maclaster added another tally to the score sheet, but Merrick closed the third quarter with a goal to double up the Scots at 10-5.
In the fourth quarter, Akau and Ickert found the back of the net within a minute and a half of one another to add some insurance for the Vikings. Macaleter dented the twine with 2:38 on the clock, but Bleizien cushioned the final margin with a last-minute goal in a 13-6 spread.
Merrick led the team with four goals in the game, while Palmentera-Reid had 13 saves.
Information courtesy Augustana College Athletics Communications
