SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Division III No. 8-ranked Scots of Macalester College dropped matches to the Virginia Military Institute, 13-12, and Division III No. 5 Augustana College, 13-6, are Riley Pool on the second/final day of the 2026 Macalester Invitational.
The Scots move to 2-2 on the season as they prepare to enter Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) competition.
In the first game, the Scots wasted no time and scored on their first two possessions versus VMI with sophomore Anna Gaisser (Seattle, Wash./Ingraham) and senior Jess Palmer-Sammons (Half Moon Bay, Calif./Half Moon Bay) both finding the back of the net.
VMI was able to get on the scoreboard, but quickly the Scots came back with two more goals of their own as senior Kendall Strauss (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock) and junior Hannah Fasi (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani School) got in on the action to give Mac a 4-1 advantage. The Keydets began to settle in and scored three unanswered goals to send both teams to the second quarter tied up at four-all.
In a low scoring second quarter, the Scots were able to score two more, with Palmer-Sammons firing in another marker before first-year Katie Martin (Bryn Athyn, Pa./Germantown Academy) chipped in a goal. VMI matched Macalester’s two goals to end the half deadlocked at six-all.
The third quarter kicked off with both teams trading goals before the Keydets jumped out to a 9-8 lead heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
VMI cushioned its lead with a pair of tallies to fend off the Scots. Macalester fought until the final whistle bringing the game back to within one by fell short of the comeback in a 13-12 defeat.
Gaisser and Palmer-Sammons led the Scots with three goals apiece, with Fasi trickled in a pair. Strauss, Martin, senior Lorelei Bell (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) and first-year Alice Lemmon (Evanston,Ill./Evanston Township) accounted for single goals, while senior goalkeeper Jayden Kratt (Palo Alto, Calif./Henry M. Gunn) posted four saves in the loss.
Facing the defending CWPA Champion Vikings in a non-conference contest, first-year Reese Winegar (Hoffman Estates, Ill./William Fremd) got the Scots on the board on their first possession versus Augustana. Augie responded with one of their own before Palmer-Sammons came back down and gave the Scots back the lead. The squads went back and forth playing some strong defense until the Vikings were able to score again and enter the second quarter squared at two-all.
Augustana keyed on the Scots in the second quarter by holding Macalester to one goal while netting five to acquire a 7-3 lead by halftime.
Coming out of the half, the Scots showed signs of life after Palmer-Sammons delivered a quick goal to bring the Scots within three at 7-4, but that was as close as they would get as the Vikings continued to put away shots for a 10-5 margin on the scoreboard following three quarters of competition.
Augustana kept their foot on the gas over the final eight minutes by scoring three more while Gaisser mustered one for Macalester,
Palmer-Sammons finished with two goals, while Winegar, Martin, Gaisser, and first-year Mak Kratz (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) each contributed solo strikes. Kratt and first-year Myles Kratz (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) logged one and two saves, respectively.
Information courtesy Macalester College Athletics Communications
