KENOSHA, Wis. – The Macalester College water polo team began play in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) with an 8-7 win over Carthage College and a 7-5 loss to Augustana College (IL) on Saturday at Carthage's Koenitzer Aquatic Center. The Scots are now 3-3 overall, while Carthage falls to 1-12 and Augustana improves to 16-9.

Against Carthage, Senior Jess Palmer-Sammons (Half Moon Bay, Calif./Half Moon Bay) and senior Alana Nadolski (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) opened the first quarter in dominant fashion with a goal each. Carthage would pull even, however, with two makes, and build on that momentum in the second with two more unanswered goals for a 4-2 lead.

The Scots gained a lead in the third with three makes, two from Palmer-Sammons and one from sophomore Anna Gaisser (Seattle, Wash./Ingraham). The Firebirds fell silent, and the Scots entered the fourth with a 5-4 edge. 

Carthage senior Brenna Cartens would go on a heater in the fourth, scoring three goals and tying the game despite two more Macalester goals, one each from Palmer-Sammons and Gaisser. The teams entered overtime tied 7-7.

The Scots would quench the Firebirds in overtime, with first year Reese Winegar (Hoffman Estates, Ill./William Fremd) scoring the only overtime goal to secure the win.

Palmer-Sammons led the Scots offensively with four goals in the match, and senior goalkeeper Jayden Kratt (Palo Alto, Calif./Henry M. Gunn) had a whopping 12 saves in goal. 

While the Scots held on strong in the second match of the day, a late game lag cost the win. Palmer-Sammons scored the first two goals of the game in quick succession to take the lead during the second quarter. Augustana found the net with 25 seconds on the clock, and the teams entered the third with Macalester on top 2-1.

The Vikings opened the third with three goals. Winegar and first-year Alice Lemmon (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) responded with makes of their own, but the Scots wouldn't be able to gain an edge. Though senior Lorelei Bell (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) tallied another point, three more Vikings' goals in the fourth would end the match in their favor, 7-5.

Palmer-Sammons again led the Scots, scoring two goals to cap the day out with six. Kratt had seven saves.

The Scots' CWPA quad continues on Sunday, with matches against Grove City College and Austin College.

MAC – 2 0 3 2 1 - 8
Carthage – 2 2 0 3 0 - 7
Macalester goals: Palmer-Sammons 4, Winegar 2, Gaisser 2, Nadolski 1

MAC – 0 2 2 1 - 5
Augustana – 0 1 3 3 - 7
Macalester goals: Palmer-Sammons 2, Lemmon 1, Winegar 1, Bell 1