Freshman Alex Szymczak had all three CMS goals in a 9-3 defeat to Azusa Pacific

Posted: Mar 02, 2019

CMS Women's Water Polo Falls to CSU Monterey Bay, Azusa Pacific at Claremont Convergence

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team dropped a close 10-8 decision to CSU Monterey Bay in its opening game of the day and then fell 9-3 to Azusa Pacific in the Claremont Convergence Tournament finale on Saturday at Axelrood Pool.

The Azusa Pacific defeat spoiled the first career hat trick for freshman Alex Szymczak, who had all three Athena goals in the contest. Sophomore Amelia Ayala had a hat trick in the defeat to CSU Monterey Bay.

CMS fell into an early 3-0 goal against Monterey Bay, but bounced back to take a 5-4 lead in the second quarter. Freshman Maddie Menard got the comeback started with a goal to close out the first quarter, and sophomore Chandlyr Denaro followed with a goal to start the second quarter. After the Otters answered, CMS rattled off three straight goals in a span of just under three minutes to take the lead.

Ayala started the 3-0 spurt with her first goal of the game with 6:52 left in the second quarter, and freshman Addi Duvall followed at the 4:49 mark to tie the score at 4-4. Freshman Emily McElroy then converted with 3:53 left to give CMS its first lead of the contest at 5-4.

The Otters, though, would score the next five goals, including two straight to close out the half to take a 6-5 lead in the break, and then the first three of the second half. Ayala stopped the run with her second goal with 3:23 left in the third, but Kaya Ortega answered for CSU Monterey Bay with 1:34 left in the third to make it 10-6 going into the fourth.

CMS shut down the Otters in the fourth and gave themselves a chance for the comeback, as Denaro scored her second and Ayala tallied her third to close to within 10-8, but the Athenas could come no closer.

The nightcap saw the scored tied 1-1 after the first quarter, with Szymczak scoring on a rebound to account for the Athena goal. However, Azusa Pacific scored the final three goals of the second quarter and the first goal of the third quarter to take a 5-1 lead. Szymczak responded with two goals in a row to get CMS back within 5-3 with 2:45 left in the third, but Azusa Pacific closed out with the final four goals to pull away for the win.

CMS will be back in action when it travels to Cal Lutheran on Wednesday for a SCIAC match at 7 p.m.