Courtesy: Mount Athletics
EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 12, 2022) – Mount St. Mary’s women’s water polo returned to the win column Saturday in stirring fashion Saturday. Mara Davis hit the game-winning goal in overtime to defeat Gannon 13-12. Following that, the Mount sailed past Mercyhurst in a 13-2 rout to take both their contests at the La Salle Invitational.
The win snapped 11 defeats in a row for the team. Their most recent win before today was February 18th at Penn State Behrend.
Rebecca Valentine led all Mountaineers with seven goals on the day, followed by Robyn Currie with six. Ana Luisa Cotta registered multi-goal efforts in both games, and Emily Van Kerckhove joined her in the second feature.
Getting the nod in goal, Samantha Bright tallied 22 saves during the day – 15 of them coming in the Mercyhurst match. The freshman keeper added five steals in the Gannon game, matching a high with Cotta.
First quarters favored the Mount as the team launched to a 3-0 start in the opener and a 7-1 burst in the afternoon. Gannon rallied to remain close at halftime, pulling level with five goals in the third period. Each side supplied two goals for an even score at the end of regulation. With no time to spare in the first overtime, Davis fired a shot that crossed from the far-right side of the pool into the top left corner of the net. Defense held firm in a scoreless second overtime to deliver the win.
Carrying the momentum into game two, the Mount prevented any hopes for a comeback by the Lakers. They held Mercyhurst scoreless in the second quarter for a 9-1 lead at the break, then pulled away with three goals in the final frame.
One more event awaits Mount St. Mary’s at La Salle – a Sunday morning showdown with Salem. First swim-off is 11:30 a.m. from the Kirk Pool.
Mount St. Mary’s 13, Gannon 12
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 2OT
Mount St. Mary’s 3 4 2 2 2 0
Gannon 0 4 5 2 1 0
Mount St. Mary’s Goals: Currie 4, Valentine 3, Cotta 2, Vieira 1, Davis 1, Sanders 1, Thurman 1
Mount St. Mary’s 13, Mercyhurst 2
Team 1 2 3 4
Mount St. Mary’s 7 2 1 3
Mercyhurst 1 0 1 0
Mount St. Mary’s Goals: Valentine 4, Cotta 2, Van Kerckhove 2, Currie 2, Vieira 1, Szczublewski 1, Davis 1
