ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Division III No. 7-ranked Macalester College water polo team split a pair of games on Day 2 of the Macalester Invitational at Riley Pool. The Scots defeated Monmouth College, 17-8 in the morning match before falling to Division III No. 5 University of La Verne, 19-8 in the afternoon.
Against Monmouth, the teams battled to a 6-6 tie through two quarters, while senior Oriana Galasso (Gresham, Ore./Central Catholic) and sophomore Riley Waters (Portland, Ore./St. Mary’s Academy) scoring two goals apiece for Macalester. It was a different story in the third quarter, as the hosts tallied seven goals to turn a close game into a runaway win for Macalester. The Scots also tightened up the defense, allowing just two goals after halftime while scoring 11 times.
Galasso scored three of her team-best six goals in the third quarter. Waters finished with three goals, while sophomore Annika Krueger (Emerald Hills, Calif./Sequoia) and first-years Sydney Hollingsworth (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) and Eleanor Michaud (Long Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) tallied two goals each. Senior Naomi Strait (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton) and first-year Alex Westrick (Ashland, Ore.) also found the net in the win.
La Verne, who defeated the Scots, 13-7, earlier in the tournament on February 22, jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the rematch. Macalester came within two goals twice, but the Leopards answered every time the Scots scored and strung together seven fourth-quarter goals to put the game away.
Galasso scored five goals to lead the Scots, with Hollingsworth, Krueger and Michaud also scoring.
Release courtesy Macalester College Athletics Communications
