WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Division III No. 6-ranked Macalester College water polo team earned Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III victories over host Washington & Jefferson College, 11-10, and Connecticut College, 15-10, at W&J’s Henry Memorial Natatorium. The Scots improve to 11-5 overall and 6-1 in conference play as the team clinches the No. 2 seed for the CWPA Division III Championship on Friday-Sunday, April 10-12, at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass.
In the first game of the day against the host Presidents, Macalester opened the scoring with a goal by senior Alana Nadolski (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood). After Washington & Jefferson tallied a pair of goals, the Scots closed out the first quarter with goals by sophomore Molly Lemmon (Evanston, Ill/Evanston Township) and first year Reese Winegar (Hoffman Estates, Ill./William Fremd) to lead, 3-2.
In the second quarter, senior Jess Palmer-Sammons (Half Moon Bay, Calif./Half Moon Bay) scored three goals to counter three from the Presidents, and senior Lorelei Bell (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) found the net to give Macalester a 7-5 advantage at halftime.
First year Katie Martin (Bryn Athyn, Pa./Germantown Academy) tallied the Scots’ lone goal in the third quarter, as Washington & Jefferson scored twice to make it a one-goal game at 8-7 heading into the final eight minutes.
Macalester opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back goals by senior Kendall Strauss (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock) for a 10-7 edge. After the Presidents answered with two more goals, junior Hannah Fasi (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani School) found the net to make the score 11-9 in favor of the Scots. Another Presidents’ goal brought the hosts to within one, but Macalester held on for an 11-10 victory.
Senior goalkeeper Jayden Kratt (Palo Alto, Calif./Henry M. Gunn) registered four saves in goal for the Scots.
Against Connecticut College, goals by Nadolski, Winegar, Bell and sophomore Mak Kratz (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) helped Macalester take a 4-1 lead in the first quarter. Bell, Winegar and Lemmon found the net in the second quarter, as the Scots built a 7-3 advantage entering halftime.
The Camels made a push to get back in the game in the third quarter, scoring five times to counter goals by Bell and Strauss to make it a one-goal game at 9-8. After Connecticut College tallied the first goal of the fourth quarter to tie the score at nine-all, sophomore Anna Gaisser (Seattle, Wash./Ingraham) and Martin scored consecutive goals for an 11-9 edge. Winegar followed a goal by the Camels with two of her own, then Nadolski and Palmer-Sammons closed out the win with back-to-back goals for a 15-10 win.
Release courtesy Macalester College Athletics Communications
