GROVE CITY, Pa. — The Division III No. 6-ranked Augustana College women’s water polo team went 1-1 to begin its weekend in Pennsylvania by defeating the Connecticut College Camels, 11-3, falling to the Division III No. 10 Washington & Jefferson College Presidents via a 9-8 score at Grove City College’s James E. Longnecker Pool.
Facing Connecticut, the Vikings jumped out to a 5-1 lead after eight minutes of action. The team saw goals from four different players, including two by Charlotte Newport. Emma Blezien tallied the only strike in a low-scoring second quarter to give Augie a 6-1 advantage at the break.
The two teams fought to a defensive battle in the third, with neither team seeing the back of the net until the final two minutes. Jersey Merrick and Ocean Akau collected the lone scores of the frame to move Augustana’s cushion out to 8-1 entering the fourth. The Vikings held a slight 3-2 margin through the final eight minutes to complete the 11-3 triumph.
Blezien was one of three players to boast multi-goal efforts, finishing with a game-high three.
Lizzie Pelzman saved 18 shots in net.
In game two against Washington & Jefferson, the squads exchanged goals in a low-scoring opening frame to take a one-all deadlock into the second quarter.
The Presidents had a big start to the second quarter, scoring the first three goals before consecutive strikes by Waiahuli Akau and Newport brought the Vikings within one entering halftime.
Washington & Jefferson built another multi-point lead in the third quarter, but Augie posted the final two goals of the frame to even the score at six-all entering the fourth quarter.
The Presidents scored three of the first four goals in the fourth to pull away. Mary King tallied a point around the one-minute mark, but the Vikings did not find the equalizer and fell by a final of 9-8.
Release courtesy Augustana College Athletics Communications
