ERIE, Pa. — The George Washington University women’s water polo team completed a 4-0 weekend by topping Saint Francis University, 10-7, Bucknell University, 9-7, Grove City College, 17-4, and Siena College, 11-8, at the Mercyhurst University Invitational. With the wins, GW improves to 6-2 on the season which matches the 2002 squad for the best eight-game start in program history.
In the weekend opener on Friday, February 17, Jacqueline Bywater and Erin McGeoy found the net to provide a lead the Colonials would not surrender. After outscoring the Red Flash in the third and fourth quarters, Saint Francis mounted a comeback to get within two goals in the fourth, but GW iced it with 1:43 to play when Scarlett Hallahan found the net. Junior Maggie Ball led a stout defensive effort with seven steals, while Bywater had five.
Facing Bucknell on Saturday, February 18, the second quarter proved to be the deciding factor as the Colonials held a 2-0 advantage, while the teams were even in the first, third and fourth periods. Bywater led the Colonials with three goals and five steals while goalie Katherine Moeller was just two shy of a career high with 12 saves.
In a 17-4 victory over Grove City following the Bucknell game, the Colonials dominated throughout in a balanced effort that saw 11 different players score, led by Ball’s three goals. The junior also added four steals, as did Anya Welch.
In cage, freshmen Samantha Runyon and Geena Peyton combined for nine saves.
Finally, Hallahan accounted for nearly half of GW’s goals by scoring five while also tying for team high honors with two assists in a defeat of Siena. McGeoy added two goals and the Colonials held their opponent to single digit goals for the fourth straight game thanks in part to 14 steals, led by Ball’s four and Bywater’s 3. In the cage, Runyon had three saves and Moeller had one.
Information courtesy George Washington University Athletics Communications
