ST. PAUL, Minn. -– The Division III No. 8-ranked Macalester College water polo team finished the regular season with a perfect 8-0 mark in league play as the Scots claimed victories over Wittenberg University, 19-7, and Monmouth College, 12-11. The Scots, have now gone undefeated in conference play for two years straight, had already clinched the No. 1 seed for the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Championship on Friday-Sunday, April 12-14, at Connecticut College in New London, Conn.
Against Wittenberg, the Scots took a 4-2 lead in the first quarter with two goals from senior Lucille Moran (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) and one each from junior Oriana Galasso (Gresham, Ore./Central Catholic) and senior Natalie Hoffman (Seattle, Wash./Inglemoor). Then in the second and third quarters, Macalester outscored Wittenberg by a 12-0 count to blow the game open.
Galasso had a strong offensive two quarters, scoring five goals. Sophomore Cara Mullery (Palmetto Bay, Fla./MAST Academy) tallied three goals and was followed by two from first year Riley Waters (Portland, Ore./St. Mary’s Academy), two from sophomore Adeline Steward-Nolan (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park & River Forest) and one apiece from first year Annika Krueger (Emerald Hills, Calif./Sequoia), Moran and Hoffman.
Wittenberg came back with five goals in the fourth quarter but the Scots extended their lead to 19-7 with two goals tallied by Waters and one by Hoffman.
The Scots played a close game against Monmouth College, winning 12-11.
In the first quarter the Scots went up 4-2 with a goal from Krueger, Hoffman and two from Mullery. The Scots continued to lead as Moran tallied two goals as well as one by junior Naomi Strait (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton). Up 7-3, Monmouth made a comeback push and scored four goals in the third quarter. But Moran answered with three goals of her own to make the score 10-7 going into the fourth quarter.
Monmouth outscored the Scots in the fourth 4-2, but Macalester was able to hold on with a goal by Krueger and one by Galasso.
Senior goalkeeper Courtney Overland (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) tallied 23 saves on the day for the Scots.
Release courtesy Macalester College Athletics Communications
