KENOSHA, Wis. — The Division III No. 7-ranked Vikings of Augustana College capped off a 4-0 weekend at the final Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III-West Region event of the regular season by defeating the Macalester College Scots, 8-6, and the host Firebirds of Carthage College, 10-3.
Augustana needed to overcome an early deficit to top Macalester.
After a Casey Barragan goal to begin the game, the Vikings found themselves in an early deficit following three straight scores from the Scots to close out the first half. Macalester tied the score at one-all to end the first eight minutes of action prior to out-scoring Augustana 2-0 in the second quarter for a 3-1 lead at the break.
Barragan quickly brought Augie within one to kick off the second half, followed by an equalizing goal from Charlotte Newport halfway through the third quarter. The Vikings then responded to a Scots’ goal with one of their own from Annie Opal Dickson to even the score at four-all. Macalester notched one final tally in the frame with 25 seconds remaining to take a 5-4 advantage into the fourth and final quarter.
Nearly three minutes went by without a score until Barragan once again brought the game to a deadlock. Her goal was the first of four straight for the Vikings, with Carli Udovich‘s score shortly after giving Augie the lead for good. Barragan and Newport added onto their total to cushion the margin, fending off one final score from the Scots to complete the 8-6 win.
Barragan led the Augie offense with four goals, one assist, and one drawn exclusion.
Lizzie Pelzman had nine saves in net to claim the win.
In the final game of the weekend, the Vikings took on the Firebirds for the third time this season.
Consecutive scores from Ocean Akau and Barragan gave Augie the early lead to start, on their way to five first-quarter goals. After Carthage got within one at 2-1, Barragan and back-to-back goals from Victoria Guest pushed the lead to 5-1 after eight minutes of action. The Vikings’ margin grew to five through the second quarter, out-scoring the Firebirds 2-1. Udovich and Jersey Merrick capped off the second quarter with scores to make it 7-2 at the break.
The two teams played to an even 1-1 third quarter to keep the differential intact before the Vikings grabbed the final two goals of the game in the fourth quarter to round out the 10-3 win. Lauren Dickinson notched her first and only goal of the day in the third, before Guest and Barragan secured the fourth-quarter scores. Both finished with a team-high three goals.
With the wins, Augustana improves to 13-5 overall and 7-1 in the CWPA Division III-West, to claim the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming conference tournament on Friday-Sunday, April 21-23, at Macalester in St. Paul, Minn.
Release courtesy Augustana College Athletics Communications
