KENOSHA, Wis. — The Carthage College women’s water polo team finished 2-2 during a Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III-West Region weekend at home in HARIBO Pool. The Firebirds burned Grove City College, 14-6, and Division III No. 7 Austin College, 10-8, while being put out by Division III No. 9 Macalester College, 8-7 OT, and Division III No. 5 Augustana College, 15-3.
On Saturday, March 14, Carthage opened its first game by trading goals with Macalester, as the first quarter concluded in a two-all tie. Grace Steinberg and Mak Werner found the back of the net for the Firebirds, setting the tone for a competitive matchup.
The Firebirds pulled ahead in the second quarter, outscoring Macalester 2-0 in the span. Steinberg added a second goal, while Brenna Carstens also tallied a marker to put the home team ahead 4-2 heading into halftime.
Macalester battled back in the third quarter by scoring three goals to reclaim the lead and take a 5-4 advantage entering the final eight minutes of regulation.
Carthage responded early in the fourth quarter as Carstens scored back-to-back goals to give the Firebirds a 6-5 lead. Macalester answered once again, tying the game at six-all with six minutes remaining. Carstens completed a hat trick at the 4:57 mark to put Carthage back in front, but Macalester scored with just 1:29 left to force overtime. In the extra two minue frames, Macalester secured an 8-7 victory.
The Firebirds came out strong in the first quarter against Grove City, building an early 4-2 lead. Steinberg, Kamille Graham, Carstens and Morrigan Bushroe-Stumpf each contributed solo scores in the opening frame.
Carthage continued its offensive pressure in the second quarter. Despite Grove City’s attempts to slow the momentum, the Firebirds added two more goals from Yamila Areizaga and Kiera Crawley to carry a 6-4 lead into halftime.
The Firebirds maintained control in the third quarter, outscoring Grove City 3-2. Areizaga scored twice, while Steinberg added another goal in extending Carthage’s lead to 9-6 entering the final quarter.
Bushroe-Stumpf led the offense in the fourth quarter with a three-goal performance. Malee Todd and Aubrey Korzyniewski both chipped in solo goals to help lockdown a 14-6 win.
On Sunday, March 15, Carthage its game versus Austin with a strong start by taking a 3-2 lead in the first quarter. Graham, Carstens and Crawley each recorded goals for the Firebirds.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the second quarter, but Carthage maintained the advantage heading into halftime. Carstens led the offense with two goals, while Austin added one to provide the Firebirds a 5-3 lead.
Carthage extended the lead in the third quarter by outscoring Austin once again to enlarge the spread to 8-5. Graham, Carstens and Crawley each added goals to help build the cushion.
Austin attempted a late comeback in the fourth quarter with three goals, but the Firebirds held strong. Areizaga and Werner each scored to seal the 10-8 victory.
In the weekend finale against the defending CWPA Division III Champion Vikings, Carthage struck quickly as Graham scored just 25 seconds into the contest to give the Firebirds an early lead versus Augustana. The Vikings responded with three goals to push ahead 3-1 by the conclusion of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Vikings extended the lead by outscoring Carthage via a 4-1 count. Areizaga recorded the lone goal for the Firebirds as Carthage trailed 7-2 at halftime.
Carthage attempted to cut into the deficit in the third quarter when Carstens scored at the 6:09 mark. However, the Vikings continued their offensive push, adding four more goals to stretch the lead to 11-3.
Augustana held Carthage scoreless in the fourth quarter and deposited four more goals in rolling to a 15-3 win.
Information courtesy Carthage College Athletics Communications
