Athenas Jump on Bulldogs and Scots Early, Earn Saturday Sweep
REDLANDS, Calif. – Claire Baxter (CMC) and Roxy Kiessling (CMC) each scored three goals in a 9-4 victory for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team over the Redlands Bulldogs on Saturday morning. The 9-4 victory over the Bulldogs was just the start of a doubleheader sweep for the Athenas, CMS completed their sweep with a 12-7 victory over Macalester later in the afternoon. Baxter led the Athenas on the day with six goals across the two games.
Game One – CMS defeated Redlands 9-4
Against Redlands, the Athenas scored six of the first seven goals in the game to take a 6-1 lead in the opening minutes of the second-half. The Bulldogs looked to counter in the second-half, scoring three goals after the break, but CMS' offense was too much. The Athenas scored three goals of their own down the stretch and held off Redlands for the five-goal victory.
CMS outshot the Bulldogs 27-17 in the game and converted on half of their powerplays, going 4-8 with an extra attacker.
Roxy Kiessling led the Athenas in the strong opening stretch for CMS, scoring two goals and assisting on another to help CMS build a 6-1 lead less than three minutes into the third period. In addition to Kiessling's effort, four other Athenas notched one goal apiece during the run.
Game Two – CMS defeats Macalester 12-7
In Game Two of their doubleheader, the Athenas defeated the Macalester Scots by a 12-7 final. The Athenas dominated possession and outshot the Scots 31-16 in the game, resulting in the five-goal victory. CMS took a 6-3 lead at the half, before continuing to grow their advantage in the second-half.
Claire Baxter and Jessica Gaffney (CMC) each tallied three goals in the victory to lead seven different goal scorers for the Athenas. Aracelia Aldrete (CMC) was one of those seven goal scorers, notching a goal midway through the opening period. In addition to her first quarter goal, Aldrete dished out four assists with two in each half. Aldrete also collected a game-high six steals in the contest.
The Athenas started the game by scoring the first four goals to take a 4-0 lead two minutes into the second period. After the early run, the Scots and Athenas traded nearly every other goal for the next nine minutes. With CMS holding a 9-4 lead, the Scots scored two-straight goals in an 80-second span to cut the advantage to three at 9-6.
CMS swiftly responded with three-straight goals by Gaffney, Baxter, and Kaitlyn Eng (HMC) to build a 12-6 lead and put the game away. Macalester scored a goal in the final minute, but CMS earned the 12-7 victory.
With two victories on Saturday, the Athenas move to 11-5 on the season (4-1 in the SCIAC). CMS will next be in action on Wednesday night when they travel to Chapman at 7:00 p.m.