UTICA, N.Y. — The Washington & Jefferson women’s water polo team completed a 3-1 weekend in Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III-East Region action as the Presidents downed Grove City College, 13-7, host Utica University, 16-6, and Penn State Behrend, 14-5, along with taking a 17-9 setback against Connecticut College.
The Presidents improve to 6-1 in CWPA division play and 8-8 overall.
On Saturday, April 1, W&J overcame an early deficit and used a big second half to pick up the 13-7 win over Grove City. The Presidents trailed 2-1 after the first and the match was tied at 5-5 at halftime.
However, W&J outscored Grove City 4-1 in the third quarter to take a 9-6 lead into the fourth. The Presidents tallied the final four goals of the frame, which included three over the final 3:54 of the quarter. Sydney Neumann (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) scored with just six seconds left in the quarter to stretch the lead to three goals.
W&J scored four of the five foals in fourth quarter to pull away and finish off the victory. A balanced attack attributed to the scoring outburst, as five different Presidents scored in the final quarter.
Ryley McClellan (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) finished with a team-high four goals against the Wolverines. Laura Anthony (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and Megan DePrez (Claremont, Calif./Claremont) each finished with three goals.
Alliey Cunningham (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) made 13 saves in goal for the Presidents.
Washington & Jefferson took its lone loss of the weekend in the final game on April 1 as Connecticut College outlasted the Presidents.
The Camels led by a 5-2 score after the first quarter and 8-5 at halftime. Connecticut College stretched the lead to 12-7 after the third quarter and scored five of the seven fourth quarter goals.
McClellan scored four more goals to add to her total. Cunningham made eight saves in the loss to the Camels.
On Sunday, April 2, the Presidents coasted to a 16-6 victory over the host Pioneers. Eight different Presidents scored in the win.
W&J scored eight goals in the second quarter to build a 9-3 lead at halftime. Washington & Jefferson then outpaced Utica by a 7-3 margin over the final 16 minutes to earn the double-digit victory.
Anastacia Didovich (Venice, Fla./Venice) tallied a team-best four goals in the victory. McClellan scored two goals and made four saves in goal for W&J.
In W&J’s weekend finale, the Presidents got off to a quick start and a sizable 7-3 lead heading into the half versus Penn State Behrend.
Coming out of the half, W&J kept their foot on the gas as they tallied another seven goals to take a dominant 14-5 victory.
DePrez and Neumann scored three goals a piece while Anthony and McClellan added two more individually. Cunningham posted another strong performance in goal earning 10 saves.
Release courtesy Washington & Jefferson College Athletics Communications
