Women's Water Polo Knocks Off #5 Augustana

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - The No. 9-ranked Austin College women's water polo team picked up its biggest win of the year on Sunday, downing No. 5-ranked Augustana 8-5 to improve to 4-8 overall and 3-0 in CWPA Division III competition.

Austin College has now won four in a row and remains unbeaten against Division III opponents this season, with all eight losses coming against Division I and Division II programs. The 'Roos used a dominant third quarter to pull away from Augustana late, taking a 5-5 game to an 8-5 win in the game's last eight minutes. The two teams traded goals in the opening period to make it 1-1 after the first frame, and the game was 3-3 heading into halftime. Lauren Olivier scored the first two goals of the game for the 'Roos, and Cory McGrath tallied to even things up heading into the break.

Olivier got the scoring started in the third to make it 4-3, and after Augustana squared things up, Kylee Noble found the back of the cage to put the 'Roos on top 5-4. Augustana tied things up with 36 seconds left in the third quarter, but that ended up being their final goal of the game. Maddie Jacks put Austin College ahead for good at 6-5 with 5:07 left, and Noble scored to make it a 7-5 game. Olivier capped off her big day with her fourth goal with exactly two minutes remaining to make it an 8-5 final. Erin McCormack made nine saves for Austin College, adding two steals, and Noble finished with two goals and a pair of assists in the victory.