Women's Water Polo Compete at CWPA Regional Tournament

NEW LONDON, Ct. - The Penn State Behrend women's water polo team opened their weekend at the Collegiate Water Polo Assosication (CWPA) Regional Tournament Friday afternoon, hosted by Connecticut College. They dropped the first game to Monmouth, 7-5 and but rebounded for a 10-3 over Utica in game two.

Lauren Wood (Vernon Hills, IL/Vernon Hills) paced the Lions (2-9) in game one with a hat trick. Her goal in the first kept the game within one, but Behrend failed to score in the second quarter. The Scots added two second-quarter goals to take a 4-1 lead into halftime.

The Lions came out strong to start the second half thanks to goals from Brittany Pinter (Erie, PA/McDowell) and Maryn Horn (Houston, TX/Jersey Village). Down 4-3, Wood added her second goal of the game to open the fourth quarter and tie the game at 4-all. However, Monmouth answered with two straight goals and outlasted Behrend down the stretch.

Kara Stegmann (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) added eight saves in goal and Pinter tabbed four steals.

In game two, the Lions jumped out to a quick 5-1 in the first quarter and then added four more to close out the half. Behrend held Utica scoreless in the second quarter to take a 9-1 lead at the half.

The Lions scored just one goal in the second half, but their strong defense prevented a comback from the Pioneers.

Clare Jeffreys (Erie, PA/Villa Maria Acedemy) led the way for the Behrend offensive. She scored four goals and added one drawn kickout. Wood added two more goals to bring her total to five on the day and also added two assists.

Horn netted a pair of goals and dished out one assist while Pinter added a goal of her own.

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow with another pair of games beginning at 11:40 a.m.