OAK PARK, Ill. – The Carthage College Lady Reds water polo team opened their 2016 season Saturday, February 13^th, going 2-1 in exhibitions at Fenwick High School.  The Lady Reds beat Windy City Water Polo and Harper College before falling to  Gypsies Water Polo in their final game.
 
Carthage used balanced scoring in their first game against Windy City to take the opener 16-5.  In the win, Carly Strass and Allie Boothe each had four goals, while Brittany Wallace had a game-high six.  Defensively, Jane Eckles had four steals and goalie Anna Shifter finished with six blocks and three steals, holding Windy City to 0-for-3 on penalty shots.
 
A great defensive effort gave the Lady Reds a convincing 13-3 win over Harper College.  Shirer had seven blocks in the game along with five steals from Strass, three by Wallace and three by Eckles.  Eckles and Wallace each had three goals to lead the Lady Reds while Strass and Amanda Booth added two apiece.
 
The Lady Reds fell to Gypsies Water Polo in the final game of the day, 11-5.
 
The Lady Reds continue exhibition play in two weeks when Carthage travels to South Bend, Indiana for the Notre Dame Club Tournament February 28^th at the Rolfs Aquatic Center.