WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington & Jefferson College women’s water polo team opened its 2026 campaign by defending home water with non-conference wins versus fellow Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III institutions Grove City College, 18-17 sudden death overtime, and Penn State Behrend, 19-11, at the Henry Memorial Natatorium.
.Facing Grove City, Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) led the Presidents with a nine-goal performance, including the game-winner in sudden victory.
The two teams did not show much separation right from the opening sprint. Sophomore Autumn Woollcott (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) found the back of the net twice in the opening quarter, but the Wolverines matched the Presidents’ scoring to deadlock the game at two-all through eight minutes of competition.
W&J was able to obtain a slight 4-3 advantage in the second quarter as sophomore Emmie Ratcliff scored her first two goals of the contest. Freshman Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and junior Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) both got themselves on the scoresheet in that frame. The Presidents took a 6-5 lead into the halftime interval.
The Wolverines played a strong third quarter to outscore the Presidents by an 8-3 count to slaim a 13-9 lead going into the final frame. The Ratcliff sisters each scored a goal in the third interval. Freshman Chloe Majorprice (Manchester, Mich./Skyline) also got her first collegiate goal to round out the scoring for W&J.
The Presidents kept fighting in the fourth quarter. Trailing 14-10, Washington & Jefferson went on a 5-1 run to send the game into overtime in the final seconds. The Ratcliff sisters combined for five goals in the final eight minutes, while Woollcott also got her second goal of the match in the closing frame of regulation.
In overtime, Emmie Ratcliff scored two goals via five-meter penalty shots in the first overtime. The Wolverines replied in the second overtime period with two goals of their own to even the damage at 17-all. However, Emmie Ratcliff capped off her impressive performance with the game-winner in a sudden death period.
Caron headlined the Presidents’ second game of the day with nine goals and three sprint victories on four tries.
Both teams started the contest with four goals apiece in the opening quarter. Freshman Riley Gutierrez (Deer Park, Texas/Deer Park) scored her first collegiate goal in the frame. Caron got her first two of the game, and Woollcott added to her tally as well.
The Presidents separated themselves from the Lions in the second quarter as Caron had four of the team’s seven goals in the frame. Woollcott scored her second of the game, and the Ratcliff sisters each got themselves on the scoresheet. Solid defense by the Presidents’, including freshman goalkeeper Lani Weaver (Conroe, Texas/Conroe), limited Penn State Behrend to a single goal.
W&J kept the momentum in the third quarter by outscoring the Lions via 5-2 count to inflate the lead to 16-7. Caron and mmie. Ratcliff both scored two goals in the third interval to accompany a second marker by Gutierrez.
The Lions attempted to close the gap in the fourth quarter, but the Presidents staved off the Lions thanks to goals by Caron and the Ratcliff sisters to preserve a 19-11 victory.
Information courtesy Washington & Jefferson College Athletics Communications
