'Roo Water Polo Falls to No. 1 Pomona-Pitzer

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - The No. 8-ranked Austin College women's water polo team took on No. 1-ranked Pomona-Pitzer in the semifinal round of the USA Water Polo Division III Championships on Saturday, with the 'Roos falling 20-4 to the Sagehens. The 'Roos will now take on No. 5-ranked Augustana in the third place game on Sunday.

Pomona-Pitzer came out strong from the start, scoring a minute in and then again just over a minute later to make it 2-0, and the Sagehens would finish the opening quarter with a 6-0 lead. The margin grew to 11-0 in the second quarter before Alyssa Ross found the back of the cage with 1:42 left in the period to make it 11-1 heading into halftime. Pomona-Pitzer had another big scoring quarter in the third, out-pacing the 'Roos 6-0 in the frame to make it 17-1 heading into the fourth.

Ross would tally again in the final period, with Ashley Chand and Aubrey Pasky also scoring to get Austin College to four goals in the game, but the Sagehens kept pace with three goals of their own to keep the 'Roos from putting a dent in the deficit. Erin McCormack had four saves and Emily Engberson had a pair for Austin College in the loss. The 'Roos will now take on Augustana for the fourth time this season in the third place game. After topping Augustana in the first match-up of the year, the 'Roos will be looking to even the season series after dropping the last two meetings. The game is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning on the campus of Augustana.