Women's Water Polo Captures First Win

ERIE, Pa.  – Freshman Paula Rusca netted five goals on the night, while Kendell Duffy scored the eventual game winner in a 6-5 victory over Macalester to help the Penn State Behrend women's water polo split to contests on Friday night.

In a low-scoring game, Duffy made her only goal of the day count at the 2:04 mark of the fourth quarter to get the Lions (1-6) their first win of the season.  Behrend fell in its home opener to Wheaton, 11-4.

The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first quarter. Anne Lawrence recorded the first goal off an assist from Jillian Sebrosky and Rusca scored the second goal 48 seconds later for a 2-0 lead. MaryEllen Spooner had two chances from the penalty spot, connecting on the second try to make it, 3-0.

Macalester held a 3-1 advantage in goals in the second quarter to pull within one. Two minutes after halftime, Macalester tied the game at 4-all off a goal from Hannah Strauss-Albee.

Goalie Elizabeth Causgrove came up with some big saves, including a steal right in front of the cage in the third quarter to stop the visitors from scoring.  Rusca scored again just 25 seconds into the fourth quarter to put the Lions ahead, 5-4. Spooner had back-to-back shots hit the post, but Duffy was able to make it a two-goal lead with 2:58 left to play.

After Macalester called a time out, Katie Eulau fired a hard shot from far out and into the cage at 6-5 with 1:26 on the clock. Another time out did not do the trick and Macalester could not capitalize on its final attempt to tie the game.

In the opener, Wheaton built a 4-0 lead before Rusca got the Lions on the board in the second corner off a goal just as a power play was ending.  The 7-1 lead turned into 10-2 with Behrend getting a goal from Spooner in the third.

Causgrove came up big once again, making three straight saves on consecutive penalty shots in the fourth quarter which led to another Rusca goal and her completing the hat trick a minute later on an assist from Spooner.

The Lions return to action tomorrow against Carthage at 12 p.m. and Connecticut College at 6 p.m.