NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Carthage College women's water polo team returned to action at the Collegiate Water Polo Association Division III Championship Saturday, where the Lady Reds topped Monmouth College before falling to Connecticut College in the conference semifinal.
 
The split sends the Lady Reds to the consolation match with a 14-4 record where they will meet Penn State-Behrend Sunday.
 
After a tightly fought match in the first half, Carthage found fire in the second, erupting for 12 goals in the half to put the Fighting Scots away. 
 
Carly Strass led Carthage with five steals, while dishing out an assist on one-third of the Lady Reds' goals, totaling six on in the match.  Erin McCook and Laura Larsen each tallied a pair of goals, while Allie Boothe scored all three of her hat-trick in the third quarter.  Along with Strass' big game defensively, goalie Anna Shirer recorded seven saves in the win.
 
In the semifinal, Carthage was bested, for the second time this season, by Connecticut College, falling 18-10 to the Camels.
 
Amanda Boothe and Brittany Wallace led the Lady Reds in the game with three goals and Jane Eckles added a pair of penalty shots to round out the multi-goal scorers for the Lady Reds.
 
The loss ends the Lady Reds bid at the CWPA DIII title and Carthage will now face Penn State-Behrend Sunday in the third place game at 11:40 AM.