Austin College Splits on Day One of Convergence Invite

PASADENA, Calif. - The No. 7-ranked Austin College women's water polo split its two games on day one of the Convergence Invite on Friday, falling 21-8 to No. 3-ranked Cal Lutheran before bouncing back with a 13-11 victory over Caltech.

In the opening game of the weekend against Cal Lutheran, Joslyn Dimitri scored three goals to pace Austin College, as the 'Roos kept things close in the first quarter, trailing 4-2, before the Regals used a huge second period to take control. Cal Lutheran outscored Austin College 7-1 in the quarter, pushing the margin to 11-3 at halftime, and Austin College was unable to mount a second half comeback.

The Regals scored five goals in each of the final two periods, with the 'Roos scoring twice in the third and three times in the fourth. Austin College was held to a .250 shooting percentage, compared to .583 for CLU, and the 'Roos were 4-of-16 on power play opportunities while Cal Lutheran cashed in on 10-of-13.

In addition to Dimitri's trio of scores, Bianca Gallegos, Camila Diarte, Clara Koenig, Ashlyn Thomas, and Mikayla Arizmendi found the back of the cage once each.

The 'Roos found themselves trailing Caltech 3-2 after the opening period in game two, and were down 7-3 at halftime. This time, however, it was Austin College who utilized a 7-1 period to seize control.

Austin College put seven goals in the net in the third quarter to surge ahead 10-8, and after Caltech trimmed it to a 12-11 game late in the fourth, Dimitri sealed the game with 45 seconds left, tallying one more time to make it a 13-11 final. Austin College had a .382 shooting percentage compared to .500 for Caltech, but the 'Roos made up the difference with volume, finishing with a 34-22 shot advantage. 

Dimitri led Austin College with five goals, and Diarte chipped in four. Gallegos scored twice, while Koenig and Mikhaela Torres each found the back of the cage once.