WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's water polo team (6-6, 3-2) drops a close 14-11 match against the T-4 ranked Augustana (Ill.) Vikings to open the team's home CWPA Conference Weekend at the Henry Natatorium.
 
Freshman Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) led the Presidents with a six-goal performance against the Vikings. Caron also secured all four opening sprints in the Presidents' favor. 
 
The game was a tight contest from the very beginning as the Vikings got out to an early one-goal advantage following the opening eight minutes. Caron and Sophomore Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) opened their tallies with a goal in the period. Augustana opened the game up in the second by outscoring W&J 5-2 to take a 8-4 lead into the halftime interval. Freshman Chloe Majorprice (Manchester, Mich./Skyline) and junior Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) each found the back of the net in the second frame.
 
The Red & Black did not go away without a fight. Strong play on both sides of the pool led W&J to outscore Augustana 4-2 in the third period, cutting the Viking lead down to two. Caron netted two goals in the third, while the Ratcliff sisters each scored their second of the contest.
 
Augustana found one last push to net four goals in the final period and to take the overall win 14-11. Caron scored a hat trick in the fourth to round out the W&J scoring.
 
W&J returns to the pool tomorrow (March 28) for two more matches at the Henry Natatorium. The Presidents will take on the No. 6 ranked Macalester Scots at 11:40 a.m. before closing out the day against the Austin Kangaroos, who are also receiving votes, at 3:40 p.m.