ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College water polo team split a pair of games on Day 2 of the Macalester Invitational Sunday at Riley Pool. The Scots defeated Monmouth, 17-8 in the morning match before falling to La Verne, 19-8 in the afternoon.

Against Monmouth, the teams battled to a 6-6 tie through two quarters, with senior Oriana Galasso (Gresham, Ore./Central Catholic) and sophomore Riley Waters (Portland, Ore./St. Mary's Academy) scoring two goals apiece for Macalester. It was a different story in the third quarter, as the hosts tallied seven goals to turn a close game into a runaway win for Macalester. The Scots also tightened up the defense, allowing just two goals after halftime schile scoring 11 times.

Galasso scored three of her team-best six goals in the third quarter. Waters finished with three goals, while sophomore Annika Krueger (Emerald Hills, Calif./Sequoia) and first years Sydney Hollingsworth (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) and Eleanor Michaud (Long Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) tallied two goals each. Senior Naomi Strait (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton) and first year Alex Westrick (Ashland, Ore.) also found the net in the win.

La Verne, who defeated the Scots, 13-7 on Saturday, jumped out to a 4-1 lead in today's rematch. Macalester came within two goals twice, but the Leopards answered every time the Scots scored and strung together seven fourth-quarter goals to put the game away.

Galasso scored five goals to lead the Scots, with Hollingsworth, Krueger and Michaud also scoring.

Macalester returns to action on Mar. 7-8, when they travel to Monmouth, Ill., for four CWPA conference matches.

MAC – 3 3 7 4 - 17
Mon – 3 3 1 1 - 8
Macalester goals: Galasso 6, Waters 3, Hollingsworth 2, Krueger 2, Michaud 2, Strait, Westrick

MAC – 2 1 4 1 - 8
LaV – 4 2 5 8 - 19
Macalester goals: Galasso 5, Hollingsworth, Krueger, Michaud