Macalester College Water Polo Wraps Up California Trip with Mixed Results

Redlands, Calif. – The Macalester College water polo team concluded their five-match venture in California with a nail-biting 7-6 overtime victory over the University of Redlands, followed by a challenging 19-3 defeat against Division I Cal State Fullerton. This brings the Scots’ overall record to 8-5 for the season, including an impressive 3-2 mark during their California trip.

Thrilling Overtime Win Against Redlands

The match against Redlands showcased a remarkable comeback for Macalester, which initially fell behind with a 3-0 deficit. Freshman Alice Lemmon from Evanston, Illinois, scored the Scots’ first goal midway through the second quarter, narrowing the gap. Senior Jess Palmer-Sammons, following up with a penalty shot, brought the score to 3-2 by halftime.

In a back-and-forth battle, Lemmon achieved her second goal midway through the third quarter, tying the game at 3-3, though the Bulldogs quickly regained the lead. As the fourth quarter unfolded, a goal from Redlands pushed their lead to 5-3. However, with just over a minute remaining, Palmer-Sammons scored again, followed by a crucial equalizer from first-year player Reese Winegar with only 13 seconds left, ending regulation play tied at 5-5.

During the first overtime, Palmer-Sammons succeeded in scoring on a penalty shot, giving Macalester its first lead. Despite Redlands quickly equalizing, the match was thrust into sudden death overtime. Just moments into the period, Palmer-Sammons netted another penalty shot, sealing victory for the Scots.

Key Players Against Redlands

• Jess Palmer-Sammons: 4 goals (including two penalty shots)
• Alice Lemmon: 2 goals
• Reese Winegar: 1 goal

Challenge Against Cal State Fullerton

The Scots faced a tough opponent in Cal State Fullerton, struggling to keep pace. Macalester fell behind early, trailing 4-0 before Palmer-Sammons scored in the final moments of the first quarter. A dominant performance from Fullerton saw them rack up seven goals in the second quarter and five in the third. Senior Alana Nadolski and Lemmon contributed to the scoring in the fourth quarter, but the Scots were unable to mount a significant comeback.

Defensive Highlights

In terms of defense, senior goalkeeper Jayden Kratt and sophomore Myles Kratz both made four critical saves to underscore their efforts in goal.

Final Scores

Macalester vs. Redlands

MAC – 0 2 1 2 1 0 1 – 7
UR – 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 – 6

Goals by Macalester:
Palmer-Sammons 4, Lemmon 2, Winegar 1

Macalester vs. Cal State Fullerton

MAC – 1 0 0 2 – 3
Fullerton – 4 7 5 3 – 19

Goals by Macalester:
Palmer-Sammons 1, Lemmon 1, Nadolski 1

Upcoming Matches

The Macalester water polo team will return to action in Washington, Pennsylvania, for their final four matches in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) scheduled for March 28-29. The Scots will first face Penn State Behrend on Saturday, March 28, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

For more information and updates on Macalester College water polo, visit the official Macalester Athletics page.