MONMOUTH, Ill. — Just two seconds kept the Monmouth College women’s water polo team from a potential split of their home tournament on Satrday-Sunday, March 7-8, as the Fighting Scots fell to Division III No. 9-ranked Austin College, 22-6, Wittenberg University, 13-12, Carthage College,10-9, and Division III No. 8 Macalester College, 18-7, during the opening weekend of Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III-West Region competition.
Hosting the five-team tournament of the CWPA Division III West Region teams, head coach Peter Ollis
The Fighting Scots received a last second knockout punch versus Wittenberg as the Tigers nailed a buzzer beater to clip the Scots, 13-12, on March 7.
Monmouth had pulled out to a 6-4 lead at the half when Emily Mathews ‘Skylar Rapp Ashling Staunton
Monmouth’s opening match on Sunday, March 8, had a similar, but even more dramatic ending.
The Scots spotted Carthage a 3-0 lead before their offense awakened. Becca Waxberg
After the teams traded scores, the game was tied at nine-all with two seconds to play. Carthage got the last shot when Monmouth’s attempt in the waning seconds missed and the Lady Reds’ made it count on a three-quarter court shot as the buzzer sounded to hand the Scots their second, last second loss in as many games. The Scots had opened and closed the weekend with a pair of defeats to the runner-up and champion from the 2019 CWPA Division III Championship. The Scots opened play on March 7 with a 22-6 loss to 2019 league runner-up and nationally ranked Austin. The ‘Roos took a 7-1 lead and never let up to collect a 16-goal victory.
Squaring off with the CWPA’s other Scots from 2017, 2018 and 2019 league champion Macalester, Monmouth was unable to hang on in taking an 18-7 setback. Staunton again led Monmouth with four goals to finish the weekend with a team high 15. Rapp punched in seven as eight different Scots scored on the weekend.
Information courtesy Monmouth College Athletics Communications
