NEW LONDON, Conn. — The septet of Shannon Cry (Jr., Monterey, Calif./Monterey), Ashley Fitch (So., Deerfield, Mass./Williston Northampton), Sarah Nappo (Jr., Portland, Maine/Cheverus), Paige Cackovic (Jr., New Albany, Ohio/St. Francis), Sophia Soriano (Jr., Summerland, Calif./Cate School), Elaine Dealy (Fr., Pawling, N.Y./Loomis Chaffee School) and April Anderson (Jr., Mill Valley, Calif./Pomperaug) each contributed at least one goal as the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Champion Camels of Connecticut College defended their home pool in upending Utica College, 9-3, at the Jane Cadwell Lott Natatorium.
Battling the Pioneers in the opening game of a three-day, 24-game league weekend spanning from Thursday, March 23, until Sunday, March 26, Connecticut College wasted little time in juping in front as Soriano broke the ice 17 seconds into the game. Anderson followed at 5:50 and Cry cashed in on an even-strength opportunity at 4:28 to push the Camels’ lead to 3-0.
Utica responded 20 seconds later at 4:08 to trim its deficit down to 3-1 as Daniella Hannah (Fr., Dalton, Georgia/Northwest Whitfield) exploited a seam in the Connecticut defense. However, Fitch and Dealy dealt the deciding blows to the Pioneers by tossing in tallies with 46 and 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter, respectively, to enlarge the margin to 5-1 after eigth minutes of competition.
Hnlya Sloan (So., Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) attempted to pull Utica back into the game in the opening moments of the second quarter as she buried a five-meter penalty shot with 4:53 remaining until halftime to inch the Pioneers back to within two at 5-2.
Nappo got the goal back for Connecticut with 3:38 on the clock to place the spread back at four (6-2), but Utica refused to go silently as Hannah heaved in her second strike of the game wtih 25 seconds remaining to apparently move the Pioneers within three at 6-3 going into halftime.
Fifth had other ideas, however, as she swept in a shot to beat the horn to make it 7-3 at the midway point.
Both teams’ offenses cooled down dramatically in the second half as the Camels blanked Utica over the final 16:25 of the game, while the Pioneers permitted markers by Cackovic and Dealy with 4:57 and 3:53 left in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, for the 9-3 final score.
For Connecticut, Fitch and Dealy led the way with pairs of goals, while Cry, Nappo, Cackovic, Soriano and Anderson each found the back of the cage once. Sarah Sovia (Sr., Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) earned the win in cage.
Hannah keyed Utica with two goals to accompany a solo strike by Hnyla.
