WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington & Jefferson College women’s water polo team closed out the final day of the Collegiate Water Polo Association Division III regular season at the Henry Natatorium with a 14-12 win over the Carthage College Firebirds.
The result improves and drops W&J and Carthage to 5-3 in CWPA Division III competition as the Presidents claim the No. 3 seed for the CWPA Division III Championship at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., on Friday-Sunday, April 10-12, due to their head-to-head victory over the Firebirds. Carthage will compete as the No. 4 seed.
Freshman Riley Gutierrez (Deer Park, Texas/Deer Park) led the Presidents offensively with four goals on the day, including two in the final quarter of play. Sophomore Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) and freshman Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) each had three goals and two assists. Caron also had five steals on defense.
W&J found itself with an early one-goal advantage as the team went into the second quarter with a 4-3 lead. Gutierrez netted two goals, while Emmie Ratcliff and sister/junior Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) both scored once in the opening eight minutes.
The Firebirds got their offense rolling in the second quarter to outscore the Presidents 4-1 and snag a 7-5 lead going into the second half of play. Hallie Ratcliff scored W&J’s lone goal in the quarter.
The Presidents responded with a four-goal frame of their own in the third quarter to tie the game at nine-all leading into the final eight minutes of regulation. Sophomore Autumn Woollcott (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) scored a pair in the third quarter to accompany solo strikes by Emmie Ratcliff and Caron. Strong defense, led by freshman goalkeeper Lani Weaver (Conroe, Texas/Conroe), successfully held the Carthage attack to a pair of goals.
The two teams traded goals in the fourth quarter before W&J found one last offensive attack to net two unanswered scores and take the overall 14-12 victory. Gutierrez and Caron each found the twine twice, and Emmie Ratcliff rounded out the scoring with one of her own.
Weaver made 10 saves in goal for the Presidents and had one steal. The team combined for 13 steals throughout the winning performance.
Release courtesy Washington & Jefferson College Athletics Communications
