ERIE, Pa. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's water polo team was downed by La Salle University, 20-7, this morning on day two of the Curtis Robinette Memorial Invite at host Mercyhurst University's Hallman Aquatics Center in Erie, Pa.
The Lyons slip to 0-7 on the season, while the Explorers improve to 6-1.
La Salle owned a 31-25 shot advantage in the game.
Wheaton was led by sophomore attacker Ryanna Ritting (Perkasie, Pa.) with three goals and an assist to go with a pair of steals and a drawn exclusion. First year attacker Claudia Gagné (Orlando, Fla.) netted a career-high three goals and drew a game-high five exclusions. Junior attacker Sophia Romo (Jupiter, Fla.) scored a goal, drew an exclusion and came up with a steal and sophomore attacker Isobelle Jennings (Leeds, U.K.) won two of three sprints in addition to making three steals and handing out two assists. First year goalie Anduena Kraja (Chicago, Ill.) registered 10 saves.
Senior attacker Grace Smith (Houston, Texas) recorded a game-high five points, including a pair of goals to go with two steals and a field block for the Explorers. Senior center Allie Hollo (Toledo, Ohio) netted a pair of goals and added an assist, while senior attacker Ella Tice (Shillington, Pa.) contributed with a pair of goals, an assist, a steal and a field block. Junior center Samara Eschleman (Reading, Pa.) scored a team-high three goals. First year goalie Avery Rabago (Cypress, Calif.) turned away three of six shots in the first two quarters, before yielding to classmate Michaela Burroughs (Dublin, Pa.), who turned away seven of 11 shots in the final 16 minutes of action.
La Salle scored nine of the first 10 goals in the game, including three from Eschleman, to take a 9-1 lead with 1:34 to play in the opening quarter. Gagné tallied the lone goal for the Lyons during the stretch. The teams traded goals, including a marker from Ritting, prior to the end of the quarter to keep the difference the same at 10-2.
The Explorers opened the second period with a trio of goals, capped by a score from Hollo to give them a 13-2 cushion with 55 ticks to play in the quarter. Wheaton scored three of the next four goals spanning the end of the second and start of the third quarters, including goals from Romo, Ritting and Gagné to pull the Blue and White within 14-5 with 4:57 showing on the third quarter clock.
La Salle reeled off four straight goals, capped by a marker from sophomore utility player Lauren Ellis (Manteca, Calif.), to increase its advantage to 18-5 with 4:16 left in the game. Each team netted two goals to close out the match, including scores from Gagné and Ritting for the Lyons.
Wheaton returns to action later today when it takes on Gannon University at 11:00 a.m., while the Explorers take on host Mercyhurst at 12:30 p.m.
