WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's water polo team dropped a pair of matches to Division II opponents Saturday in action at the W&J Invitational inside the Henry Memorial Natatorium. The Presidents fell by a 18-11 score to Salem before dropping the nightcap by a 19-11 score to Gannon. The Golden Knights bested the Tigers 9-8 in Saturday's middle matchup.
Salem 18, W&J 11
Three Presidents recorded hat tricks in the loss to the Tigers.
Sydney Neumann (Long Beach, Calif. / Millikan),
Emma Halle (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Allegheny) and
Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas / Friendswood) all found the back of the net three times versus Salem.
The two teams battled throughout the first half. Ratcliff, Neumann and Halle each scored in the first as W&J led 3-2 after the opening quarter. The Tigers outscored the Presidents by a 5-2 margin in the second quarter to take a 7-5 lead into the halftime break. The Presidents led 5-4 midway through the second but the Tigers scored three-straight goals to surge into the lead.
That momentum spilled over into the third quarter as the Tigers extended their lead to 12-7 heading to the fourth. Salem maintained a lead of at least five goals throughout the fourth quarter of play.
Rylee Mitchell (Milan, Mich. / Milan) and
Laura Anthony (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) also found the scoring column for W&J.
Sky Wald (Granada Hills, Calif. / John F. Kennedy) and
Alliey Cunningham (Evanston, Ill. / Evanston Township) split the time in goal.
Gannon 19, W&J 11
The Golden Knights scored the first three goals and led 5-2 after the first in the last match of the day.
W&J cut the deficit to 7-5 midway through the second. Gannon led 9-6 at the break and eased its way to victory with a strong second half.
Neumann, Ratcliff and Halle scored three goals apiece once again for a balanced scoring effort. Anthony and Mitchell each scored once versus the Golden Knights.
Wald and Cunningham once again shared time in goal.
Emma O'Gorman scored seven times to lead Gannon in the victory.
Up Next:
W&J will host Wheaton (Mass.), Connecticut College, Penn State Behrend and Grove City as part of CWPA Weekend March 8-10.
Goals vs Salem
Neumann - 3
Ratcliff - 3
Halle - 3
Anthony - 1
Mitchell - 1
Goals vs Gannon
Neumann - 3
Ratcliff - 3
Halle - 3
Anthony - 1
Mitchell - 1
