ERIE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's water polo team opened its 2024 season Sunday with a pair of matches at the Robinette Invitational. 
 
W&J fell by a 12-8 score to Division II Gannon University in its opener. Later in the day, W&J suffered a 19-12 loss to Division III Chapman University from California. 
 
Emma Halle (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Anastacia Didovich (Venice, Fla./Venice) led the Presidents offensively on the day. Halle totaled seven goals while Didovich netted four. 
 
Gannon 12, W&J 8
 
Gannon pushed out to a 2-0 lead after the first and built a 5-2 lead at halftime. The Golden Knights extended their lead to 8-3 with 2:10 left in the third quarter. W&J trimmed the deficit with a goal each from Didovich and Halle registered scores to make it 8-5 after three. 
 
The Golden Knights extended their lead to as many as six goals in the fourth quarter before closing out the 12-8 victory. Laura Anthony (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy), Didovich and Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) scored a goal apiece in the fourth. 

Didovich led the way with three goals while Neumann added a pair in the loss.
 
Chapman 19, W&J 12
 
The Panthers used a strong second quarter to pull away from the Presidents in a 19-12 win. Chapman led 5-3 after the opening quarter of play. Halle, Didovich and Radcliff all scored in the first for W&J. 
 
Chapman scored seven of the eight goals in the second quarter to stretch its lead to 12-4 at halftime. Anthony had the lone goal in the second for the Presidents. 
 
W&J scored eight goals in the second half but couldn't find an answer in solving Chapman's offense. Halle notched the first two goals of the third and W&J cut the deficit to 12-7 when Ratcliff added another.  After Chapman responded with three-straight goals, Halle found the net twice in the final 1:12 of the third. Chapman led by a 15-9 margin heading to the fourth. 
 
Halle scored two more times in the fourth to finish off a six-goal effort. 
 
Up Next: W&J returns to action on Saturday, March 2 when it hosts Salem University and Gannon University at the Henry Memorial Natatorium.  
 

W&J vs. Gannon 
Goals  
Anastacia Didovich – 3
Sydney Neumann – 2
Emma Halle – 1 
Laura Anthony – 1
Hallie Ratcliff – 1
 
W&J vs. Chapman 
Goals 
Emma Halle – 6
Hallie Ratcliff – 2
Sydney Neumann – 1
Anastacia Didovich – 1
Laura Anthony – 1
Rylee Mitchell – 1