ORANGE, Calif. — Division III No. 7-ranked Austin College closed out the Kangaroos’ competition at the 2026 Convergence Tournament by steaming through Division III No. 9 the University of La Verne, 21-14, at Chapman University’s Allred Aquatics Center.
Joslyn Dimitri (six), Clara Koenig (four), Camila Diarte (two), Ashley Thomas (two), Sophia King (two) notched multi-goal games for the ‘Roos, while Bianca Gallegos, Morgan Evans, Connie Garcia, Caroline Armstrong and Mikhaela Torres each put away solo markers.
The ‘Roos outperformed the Leopards in shots (35-26), steals (nine-to-five) and sprints (four-for-four) with La Verne holding a narrow 14-to-13 advantage in exclusions drawn.
Austin never trailed in the game as Dimitri (6:30) and Koenig (3:30) buried man-up bids before the Leopards showed their spots in tying the game with back-to-back tallies by Dottie Barrera (2:49, man-up) and Ally Ratto (2:05, penalty shot).
Evans returned the ‘Roos to the lead prior to the conclusion of the first quarter by rifling in a shot with 1:03 on the clock for a 3-2 margin, but La Verne responded within the first minute of the second quarter as Brooklyn Young delivered at 7:12 to square the squads at three-all.
The goal proved to be a turning point as Armstrong (6:21, man-up), King (5:26) and Diarte (4:48) delivered for Austin to put the squad back into the lead at 6-3. Brooklyn Young (3:36) and Thomas (2:50, man-up) exchanged scores to flip the scoreboard to 7-4 before Anika Nichols (2:27, 53 seconds) sandwiched man-up (2:04) and even-strength (1:21) scores by Dimitri as the ‘Roos entered halftime with a 9-6 advantage on the scoreboard.
Dimitri began to put the contest out of reach in the dawning moments of the third quarter by pumping in shots at 7:12 and 5:57 to stake Austin to an 11-6 margin. Nichlols scored twice (5:35, 4:37)) to bookend another tally by Dimitri (5:02, man-up) to make it 12-8.
The teams continued to trade score blows as Garcia (4:18, man-up), Gallegos (2:30, man-up) and Koenig (1:41, man-up) landed shots for the ‘Roos, while Reyn Jensen (3:41, man-up) and Nichols (1:24) tossed in answers for the Leopards as Austin’s lead increased to 15-10.
A five goal even-strength surge spanning from 52 seconds left in the third quarter until the four minute mark of the fourth quarter iced the victory as Diarte (52 seconds) and Torres (23 seconds) closed out the third quarter before King (5:02), Thomas (4:43) and Koenig (4:00) commenced the final eight minutes to double-up La Verne at 20-10.
Nancy Trinh (1:52, man-up) and Nichols (1:21; 39 seconds, penalty shot) attempted to reinvigorate the Leopards’ offense with a three-score outburst, but Koenig (23 seconds) quelled the rally before Nichols flipped in a final La Verne strike for the 21-14 final score.
Austin – which cashed in on nine man-up opportunities – received assists from Diarte (four), Torres (three), Koenig (two), Dimitri (two), Jaylynn Guerra, Evans, McKenna Malone and King. Guerra earned the victory in cage with four saves.
Across the tank, Nichols (eight goals, two assists), Young (two goals), Barrera (one goal, one assist), Jensen (one goal, one assist), Trinh (one goal), Ratto (one goal), Kaitalin Smith (one assist) and Madison Cass (one assist) combined for La Verne’s offense in support of netminders Miranda Graham (17 goals against, five saves, 24 minutes) and Katalina Martin (four goals against, no saves, eight minutes).
