LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The No. 22-ranked Harvard University women’s water polo team defeated No. 23 Marist College, 7-5, but fell in the Crimson’s nightcap to No. 11/host Loyola Marymount University, 10-5, on the first day of the 2018 LMU Invitational.
In the Crimson’s opening game of the day, Harvard netted five goals in the second half to skip past Marist, 7-5. Junior goalie Sam Acker put together a strong performance, turning away 14 shots to keep the Red Foxes’ offense at bay in the second half.
Junior Kristen Hong scored the only goal of the opening frame and sophomore Sofia Carrera-Justiz found the back of the net in the second quarter, but three Marist goals in the that period gave it a 3-2 lead at the intermission. Marist scored two more times in the third quarter, but Harvard countered with three of its own to tie the game at 5-5. The goal scorers for Harvard were Sami Strutner, Hong and Quinne Pursell.
The game swung in the Crimson’s favor in the fourth quarter when Mathilde Ribordy beat the goaltender and Olivia Price sealed it.
Hong scored twice and also had one of Harvard’s five steals to factor on both ends of the tank.
In the Crimson’s second matchup of the day, Harvard fell to the host Lions from Loyola Marymount, 10-5.
LMU tallied a pair of goals in each of the first two quarters and held a 4-0 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, Hong and Carrera-Justiz both registered scores, but LMU added three more to its count. In the final frame, Price, Lana Gorlinski and Jilly Cronin all scored, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
Carrera-Justiz, Hong and Cronin each had a goal and assist, while Cleo Harrington made five saves in net.
Release courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
