MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Macalester College water polo team began the 2017 season with a pair of victories Saturday at Monmouth College. The Scots defeated Lindenwood, 12-7 in an exhibition before beating host Monmouth, 10-5.

Against Division II Lindenwood, the Scots turned a 5-4 game into a 12-7 win by outscoring their opponents 7-3 over the final 19 minutes. Sophomore Natalie Hoffman (Seattle, Wash./Inglemoor) and first year Oriana Galasso (Gresham, Ore.) each score twice in the run. First Year Cara Mullery (Palmetto Bay, Fla./MAST Academy) led Macalester with four goals, while Hoffman scored three goals.

In the win over Monmouth, the Scots scored the first six goals of the game, with Hoffman and sophomore Lucille Moran (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) scoring two goals apiece. Macalester pushed the lead to 10-2 en route to a 10-5 triumph. Galasso ended up with three goals, with sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Overland (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) registering 15 saves.

The Scots wrap up play at Monmouth on Sunday, Mar. 5 with games against Monmouth and Carthage.