Austin College Takes Third at USA Water Polo Championships

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The No. 4-ranked Austin College women's water polo team overcame a slow start to take down No. 9-ranked Augustana 12-9 on Sunday, as the 'Roos captured third place at the USA Water Polo Division III National Championships hosted by Pomona-Pitzer. The 'Roos finish the year with a record of 14-8.

Augustana jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, and the 'Roos remained scoreless for the first five minutes of the contest before Aubrey Pasky found the back of the cage to make it a 2-1 game with 2:51 left in the opening frame. That remained the score heading into the second quarter, before Kalissa Niles fired one home to even things up with 6:49 left before halftime. Augustana responded with a goal 12 seconds later, but the 'Roos got a tally from Brooke Le to make it a 3-3 game just 17 seconds after that.

Pasky scored on an assist from Le to give Austin College its first lead of the game at 4-3 with 5:11 left in the second, but Augustana quickly evened the score. Lauren Olivier ripped a goal to put Austin College back on top, and Presley Woods scored with under a minute left to send the 'Roos into halftime leading 6-4. Austin College went scoreless in the third as Augustana brought things back to even at 6-6 heading into the fourth quarter. 

Austin College took control early in the fourth, with Lexi Wong starting a 6-0 scoring run to make it 12-6 and the 'Roos would cruise from there. Olivier, Le, Sammi Thiele, Madison Taylor, and Woods all scored to help Austin College put the game away in the final frame. Augustana would tack on three late goals to make it a 12-9 final.

Valery Piachonkina made six saves in the win, while Austin College held a 30-to-23 shot advantage.