'Roos Take Second at CWPA Championships

NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Austin College women's water polo team battled throughout against top-seeded Augustana, but the 'Roos came up short in a 14-10 defeat in the CWPA Division III Championship. By finishing as one of the top two teams in the CWPA, the 'Roos have clinched a spot in the USA Water Polo National Championships.

Augustana jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and after a goal by Cory McGrath got the 'Roos on the board, Augustana would finish the opening period with a 4-2 lead. Ashley Chand scored the second goal of the game for Austin College. The second quarter was a low-scoring one, with each team tallying just once. Augustana took a 5-2 lead before McGrath scored with just six second remaining to make it a 5-3 game at halftime.

Augustana scored three unanswered to open the third quarter and push the margin to 8-3, but Bianca Gallegos and Mikhaela Torres each found the back of the cage to keep the 'Roos in it, heading into the final period trailing 10-6. Austin College put four more goals on the board in the fourth, and cut the Augustana lead to 13-10 wih just over two minutes remaining, but Augustana got the final tally of the game to make it a 14-10 final. Gallegos, Gracey Kettler, Alyssa Ross, and McGrath all scored in the fourth for Austin College.

Sunday's final marked the fourth straight season that the 'Roo women's water polo team advanced to the CWPA Championship, making them the first program in conference history to achieve that feat. McGrath was named first team All-Tournament after finishing with 10 goals in three games, and Chand was a second team All-Tournament selection after wrapping up the championships with three goals.