Women's Water Polo Notches First Win Over Ranked Opponent

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Austin College women's water polo team split its two games on Saturday at a CWPA tournament hosted by No. 8-ranked Macalester, falling 8-6 to the host school before topping No. 10-ranked Monmouth 14-9. That marks the first win over a ranked opponent for the first-year program. The 'Roos are now 4-8 overall on the year.

In the day's opening game against Macalester, the 'Roos took a 2-1 lead after the first quarter but three goals in the second put Macalester ahead 4-3 at halftime. The margin grew to 6-4 after three quarters, and the 'Roos were unable to make up the deficit in the fourth as both teams tallied twice. Brooke Le scored two goals to pace Austin College, and Valery Piachonkina made nine blocks in goal for the 'Roos.

Against Monmouth, both teams got off to a hot start offensively with each side scoring six goals in the opening quarter. Austin College tallied three times in the second quarter to go on top 9-7 at halftime, but Monmouth would pull to within one at 10-9 heading into the fourth quarter. However, the 'Roos closed things out with a dominant fourth, pitching a shutout while putting the ball in the net four times to make it a 14-9 final. Le and Presley Woods each scored five goals to lead the Austin College offense, and Piachonkina had eight blocks.

Austin College wraps up the weekend, as well as the regular season, on Sunday with games against Carthage and Wittenberg.