ERIE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's water Polo team claimed victory in both of their matchup against Division I host Mercyhurst followed by a win over Penn State Behrend at Mercyhurst University's Curtis Robinette Memorial tournament in Hagerty Family Events Center.
W&J 14, Mercyhurst 12
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 (2), Halle (1) and a buzzer beater from Neumann (1) brought W&J into the third quarter with the deficit cut to just one goal, 10-9.
Five goals for W&J in the final quarter of regulation boosted the Presidents past the Lakers to a 14-12 victory. H. 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 netted by E. Ratcliff who then scored once more with 3:35 seconds remaining to tie things up 12-12.
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. Of the competing teams W&J was the only competitor to down the host Mercyhurst.
Alliey Cunningham (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) recorded her second win of the season in net for the Presidents with 15 blocks.
W&J 10, Penn State Behrend 5
A steady offensive effort helped W&J overcome the Penn State Behrend attack. E. 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 H. Ratcliff and Autumn Woollcott (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) each netted a goal apiece for the Presidents. H. Ratcliff and Halle each 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, once again, the first to find the back of the net in the second quarter followed by Woollcott. E. Ratcliff notched the final marker of the quarter off a pass from H. Ratcliff to send the Presidents into the half ahead 7-2.
Both teams scored one goal in the third quarter. E. Ratcliff notched the lone goal for W&J.
E. Ratcliff tacked on two more goals in the fourth and final quarter of play as W&J claimed the 10-5 victory.
Senior goalkeeper Cunningham recorded her third win and totaled 10 blocks in the contest.
Up Next: The Presidents are set to host the annual W&J Invitational this coming Saturday (Mar. 1), where they will take on Gannon (11 a.m.) and the Virginia Military Institute (6 p.m.).
