'Roos Split on Day One of CWPA Regional

WASHINGTON, Pa. - The Austin College women's water polo team split its first two contest of its weekend trip to Pennsylvania, topping Penn State Behrend 17-13 before being edged 14-13 by host school Washinton & Jefferson.

In the day's opener against PSB, the 'Roos slowly built a big lead and managed to hold on throughout, grabbing an early 4-3 advantage after the opening quarter and growing the margin to 8-5 at halftime. The 'Roos opened things up with a seven goal third quarter, opening the gap up to 15-8 heading into the final frame. 

Austin College cruised from there, getting two late goals to help push the final margin to 17-13. Bianca Gallegos had a huge game offensively for Austin College, tallying six times, while Mikhaela Torres and Joslyn Dimitri each scored three times in the win. Clara Koenig chipped in a pair of goals, and Lexy Hulse, Sophia King, and Morgan Evans each found the back of the cage once.

Austin College found themselves trailing 4-3 after the opening quarter of game two, and it was in the second period that Washington & Jefferson clamped down defensively and opened up a big halftime lead, outscoring the 'Roos 5-1 in the quarter to make it a 9-4 game at the break. 

The 'Roos started to chip away at the margin in the third, out-pacing W&J 4-2 in the frame to cut it to 11-8. Gallegos and McKenna Malone each scored twice in the fourth as Austin College attempted to mount a comeback, but it ultimately came up a goal short in the 14-13 defeat. Malone leveled things at 13 goals apiece with under a minute remaining, but W&J found the game-winner with 15 seconds left to hand the 'Roos the loss.

Dimitri scored six goals to lead Austin College, and Gallegos finished with four. Malone scored twice, and Koenig was the lone other 'Roo to tally, adding a goal in the second frame.