LA VERNE, Calif. — The Division III No. 6-ranked Augustana College women’s water polo team went 1-1 to begin the Convergence Tournament in Southern California as the Vikings fell to the Division III No. 4 California Lutheran University Regals, 13-8, before knocking off Division III No. 5 Leopards of host the University of La Verne, 9-8.
In game one against Cal Lutheran, the two teams alternated the first four goals scored to result in a two-all tie after three minutes of play. The Regals grabbed the upper hand with a pair of tallies in the final 1:15 of the opening eight minutes to bring a 4-2 lead into the second quarter. Waiahuli Akau accounted for both goals for the Vikings in the opening frame.
In a high-scoring second, the Regals claimed a slight 4-3 advantage to make it an 8-5 game at halftime. Alayna Ickert and Ocean Akau posted consecutive strikes in the quarter before Anais Jones tallied a point with one second remaining.
The Vikings inched closer after outscoring the Regals by one in the third quarter. Jersey Merrick notched the first goal of the half before Anita Rodgers secured another last-second tally. Cal Lutheran put up a 4-1 margin in the fourth quarter to pull away for the five-point win.
Waiahuli Akau led Augie with two goals, while Annie Opal Dickson added a pair of assists. Lizzie Pelzman stopped seven shots in net.
Facing La Verne, the home team doubled up Augustana after eight minutes of play to claim a 4-2 lead after one quarter of action. Rodgers and Maggie Caliendo notched the first two points of the second quarter to even up the game, but La Verne answered with two of the next three to remain out in front by a score of 6-5 at the break.
After the Leopards sent in the only goal of the third quarter, the Vikings found themselves trailing 8-5 after the home team posted the first goal of the fourth frame. Augie closed the game with four unanswered points, seeing scores from four different players to steal a 9-8 win. The Vikings held the Leopards scoreless for the final 7:36 of the contests.
A total of eight players dented the twine for Augustana in the win, led by Emma Blezien‘s two goals and two assists. Susan Palmentera-Reid earned the win in net after collecting nine saves.
With the split, Augustana is now 5-3 on the season.
Information courtesy Augustana College Athletics Communications
