NORTON, Mass. – The third-seeded Washington & Jefferson College women's water polo team (9-8) secured a dramatic 12-11 overtime victory over the seventh-seeded Connecticut College Camels (3-10) in Saturday morning action at the 2026 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championships.
Sophomore
Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) paced the Presidents offensive efforts with a game-high six goals and a game-high four steals.
Freshman
Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) added four goals and an assist in the victory. Freshman
Lani Weaver (Conroe, Texas/Conroe) posted a 14-save effort including one final stop in the waning seconds to secure the win.
Both teams scored a pair of goals in the opening quarter. E. Ratcliff opened the scoring with a penalty shot goal. She added another score with 1:06 remaining in the first to even the score at 2-2. W&J scored a pair of goals in the second quarter to take a 4-2 lead into halftime. E. Ratcliff and Caron accounted for the scores.
Chloe Majorprice (Manchester, Mich./Skyline), E. Ratcliff and Caron ripped off scores to make it a 7-4 Presidents' advantage after three quarters.
The Camels found their rhythm offensively in the fourth. Connecticut College scored six times over the final eight minutes to force a tie after regulation. E. Ratcliff accounted for the final two goals of the fourth.
Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) produced the game's most important goal. The junior found the back of the net with four seconds remaining in the first overtime session. Neither scored over the final three minutes as the Presidents preserved the victory.
W&J wraps up competition at the CWPA Division III Water Polo Championships on Sunday (April 12). The Presidents will face fifth-seeded Austin on Sunday morning with a 9:30 a.m. start time.
