ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College water polo team kicked off the 2020 season with a 12-10 victory over Carthage College on the first day of the Macalester Invitational Saturday at Riley Pool. The three-time defending CWPA champion Scots were 12-5 in 2019. Macalester then lost to La Verne, 13-7 in the evening match.

In the first match, Carthage outscored Macalester 3-1 in the opening quarter before the Scots found the net five times in the second quarter to lead 6-5 at the half. Sophomore Riley Waters (Portland, Ore./St. Mary's Academy) scored four goals in the second quarter for Macalester. In the third quarter, senior Oriana Galasso (Gresham, Ore./Central Catholic) scored both of the Scots' goals to push the lead to 8-6.

Back-to-back Carthage goals to open the fourth quarter tied the score at 8-8, but Galasso and fellow senior Cara Mullery (Palmetto Bay, Fla./MAST Academy) answered to restore the two-goal lead. After Carthage scored with 4:14 remaining, Waters and Galasso tallied goals for a 12-9 edge with less than two minutes left. A late Carthage goal was not enough to prevent the Scots from earning their first victory of the season.

Waters led Macalester with five goals, while Galasso scored four goals. Sophomore Honor Kalala (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair) started in goal and made five saves, while junior Adeline Steward-Nolan (Oak Park, Ill.Oak Park and River Forest) registered six saves.

Against La Verne, the Scots gave up six goals in the second quarter and never recovered. Macalester came as close as 9-5 in the third quarter but could not overcome a powerful La Verne squad that is ranked fifth in Division III. Waters, Galasso and first year Sydney Hollingsworth (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) each scored twice, while sophomore Annika Krueger (Emerald Hills, Calif./Sequoia) scored once.

Macalester will play Monmouth at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday before getting another shot at La Verne at 3:30 p.m. at Riley Pool.

MAC – 1 5 2 4 - 12
Car – 3 2 1 4 - 10
Macalester goals: Waters 5, Galasso 4, Krueger, Mullery, Michaud

MAC – 1 1 3 2 - 7
LaV – 2 6 3 2 - 13
Macalester goals: Waters 2, Galasso 2, Hollingsworth 2, Krueger