ERIE, Pa. — The Washington & Jefferson College women’s water polo team claimed victories versus Penn State Behrend, 10-5, and host Mercyhurst University, 14-12, on the final day of the 2025 Curtis Robinette Memorial tournament at the Hagerty Family Events Center.
Senior Emma Halle (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) led the offensive registering a team-high five goals and team-high four assists. Sydney Neumann (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) and Laura Anthony (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) each notched a hat trick in the outing followed by two markers from Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas Friendswood) and one goal scored by Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas Friendswood).
The Presidents trailed the Lakers after the first quarter 4-3. Neumann was the first President to find the back of the net at the 6:41 mark of the quarter. Halle and Anthony then scored just short of a minute apart to cap the Red & Black’s scoring for the first quarter.
Halle put up the only two scores for the President in the second eight-minute quarter as W&J headed into the second half down 7-5.
Goals from Anthony (two), Halle and a buzzer beater by Neumann brought W&J into the third quarter with the deficit cut to just one goal at 10-9.
Five goals for W&J in the final quarter of regulation boosted the Presidents past the Lakers to a 14-12 victory. Hallie Ratcliff kicked off the scoring in the first minute of play. Almost three minutes would pass before the Red & Black found the net once more, this time tallied by Emmie Ratcliff who then scored once more with 3:35 seconds remaining to tie things up at 12-all.
Neumann put in the go-ahead goal with 2:57 left. Halle netted an insurance goal with 15 second left of play to end the outing with W&J claiming a 14-12 win over the Division I Lakers.
Among the competing teams of W&J, Grove City, Penn State Behrend and Gannon, the Presidents were the lone team to down the host Lakers.
Alliey Cunningham (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) recorded her second win of the season in net for the Presidents with 15 blocks.
Facing CWPA Division III foe Penn State Behrend in a non-conference clash, a steady offensive effort helped W&J overcome the Lions.
Emmie Ratcliff led the team tallying five goals in the bout and scoring at least once in each quarter. Senior Anastacia Didovich (Venice, Fla./Venice) followed with three goals while Hallie Ratcliff and Autumn Woollcott (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) each netted a goal apiece for the Presidents. Hallie Ratcliff and Halle also dished out three assists apiece.
W&J’s first two goals of the outing came from Didovich before both Ratcliff’s scored to put the Presidents ahead 4-1 heading into the second quarter.
Didovich was the first to find the back of the net in the second quarter followed by Woolcott. Emmie Ratcliff notched the final marker of the quarter off a pass from Hallie Ratcliff to send the Presidents into the half ahead 7-2.
Both teams scored one goal in the third quarter. Emmie Ratcliff notched the lone goal for W&J.
Emmie Ratcliff tacked on two more goals in the fourth and final quarter of play as W&J claimed the 10-5 victory.
Cunningham recorded her third win and totaled 10 blocks in the contest.
Release courtesy Washington & Jefferson College Athletics Communications
