PASADENA, Ca. – The Penn State Behrend women's water polo team picked up their first win of the season on the last day of their California road trip, defeating Caltech 16-5.
The Lions (1-3) got it going early in this game, jumping out to a 5-1 lead after the first quarter to make it tough for the Beavers (0-6) to overcome.
In the opening three minutes of the game, Lauren Wood (Vernon Hills, IL/Vernon Hills) and Maryn Horn (Houston, TX/Jersey Village) both found the back of the net to give Behrend a 2-0 lead. However, just 14 seconds after the Lions tallied their second goal, Caltech responded with a goal of their goal.
With only a one-goal lead midway through the first quarter, Carson Hagood (Orlando, FL/Bishop Moore Catholic) took control for Behrend. Just over 20 seconds after the Beavers goal, Hagood caught the ball, and dished a pass to Devon Van Rensburg (Johannesburg, South Africa/Crawford) where she was able to throw it past the goalie for a goal. Then, with under two minutes left in the first, Hagood buried two goals to extend the lead to 5-1 at the end for the first period.
Behrend would continue their firepower for the remainder of the game. The Lions notched four goals in the second period, three in the third, and five in the final quarter.
Hagood finished the contest with three goals and one assist. Rensburg recorded four steals, two goals, and one assist on the night. Remy De Guzman (Mission Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills) contributed in the win with three steals, two field blocks, and one assist.
Jenessa Islas-Parker (Palatine, IL/Frema) registered one goal and three assists, while Wood added two goals and one assist.
Sophomore goalie Holly Rae Hanson (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/ Rancho Cucamonga) made three saves in the win. In the fourth quarter, field player Alison McClure (Loveland, OH/Milford) was thrown in the cage where she recorded three saves.
Behrend will look to continue this momentum when they travel to Connecticut College for the CWPA Regional Tournament on March 9. They will face-off against Carthage at 8 p.m.