LEXINGTON, Va. — Scarlett Hallahan tallied five goals and three assists to become George Washington Univeristy women’s water polo’s all-time points leader as help key the Colonials to victories over Gannon University, 14-9, and host the Virginia Military Institute, 14-12, in overtime at Clark King Pool.
Hallahan has now totaled 364 points for her career, passing Rachael Bentley (362). She already held the program record for goals (237).
In the opening game of the day, the Colonials seized control with an 8-0 run after giving up two quick goals to the Golden Knights of Gannon.
GW netted the final six goals of the first quarter and then two more to open the second. Dara Bleiberg and Alana Ponce both scored twice in the run.
Jacqueline Bywater’s score with 11 seconds left in the first half pushed the lead to 10-3.
When Gannon scored the first three goals of the second half, the Colonials responded with four straight to restore the cushion.
Ponce (three goals, two assists) and Bleiberg (two goals, four assists) paced the offense in the opener. Hallahan (one goal, one assist) was also among 10 GW goal scorers.
Defensively, Hallahan nabbed a team-high four steals and Samantha Runyon made nine saves in the Buff and Blue’s second win of the season over Gannon.
Taking on host VMI, the Colonials netted four goals in the first three-minute overtime period to edge the Keydets in a back-and-forth contest.
Neither team led by more than two goals in regulation. GW twice had the lead in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, but both times VMI answered to tie it again.
In overtime, GW found separation with back-to-back goals from Ponce. The Colonials extended the advantage to 14-10 on scores from Maggie Ball and Bywater and managed to hold on through the second overtime period.
Hallahan posted four goals and two assists in the victory. She passed Bentley’s mark on her final goal with 2:34 left in regulation and later added an assist in overtime.
Ponce and Ally Jochim found the net three times each with Bywater, Ball and Maddy Johnson also scoring.
Runyon set a career high with her 10 saves in the victory.
Release courtesy George Washington University Athletics Communications
