ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The number nine seed Wheaton College (Mass.) women's water polo team was defeated by fifth-seeded Pennsylvania State University Behrend, 21-2, this afternoon in the loser's bracket of the Collegiate Water Polo Association Championship tournament at Anne Greve Lund Natatorium on the campus of host Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill.
The Lyons drop to 0-12 on the season, while the Lions improve to 5-13.
Wheaton will play number seven seed Grove City College in a consolation game later today at 5:00 p.m. EDT., while PSB plays number eight seed Connecticut College at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Wheaton held a 35-33 shooting margin over Penn State Behrend, but the Lions goaltending was outstanding in the match.
First year center Ryanna Ritting (Perkasie, Pa.) led the Lyons with a goal, five steals, a drawn exclusion and a field block, while sophomore attacker Sophia Romo (Jupiter, Fla.) also netted a goal. Junior center Issabel Babikova (South Portland, Maine) recorded a pair of assists and drew an exclusion. First year goalie Fiona Swift (Red Hill, Pa.) stopped a pair of shots for Wheaton.
Sophomore utility player Makenzie Rickerd (Rockford, Mich.) tallied seven points, including four goals to go with five steals, a field block and a drawn exclusion to pace the Lions. First year utility player Hope Edwards (Bloomfield, Mich.) netted four goals and drew an exclusion, while junior driver Susie Carrillo (Fresno, Calif.) finished with a game-high eight points, including six assists, in addition to a field block and a pair of drawn exclusions. Sophomore keeper Monica Villasenor (San Gabriel, Calif.) made 17 saves for PSB.
Penn State Behrend scored the first seven goals of the match, including all six of the first period markers. Edwards and junior utility player Darragh Martin (Green Lane, Pa.) each netted two goals to pace the opening stretch.
Romo got the Lyons on the board with a goal coming at the 6:51 mark of the second quarter to make it 7-1. Carrillo scored for the Lions, before Ritting netted another goal for Wheaton to cut the deficit to 8-2.
PSB held the Lyons scoreless for the final 18:41 of play, while scoring 13 unanswered goals, including three scores from Rickerd.
