ERIE, Pa. – Carthage College water polo finished their 2016 regular season Sunday splitting their two matches at Penn State Behrend's Junker Center Pool, falling to Washington & Jefferson College before finishing on a high note, defeating the hosts to finish off the weekend.
 
The Lady Reds, who currently sit at 13-3 overall and 11-3 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association, are tied in second in the conference with 22 points along with Connecticut College, and are looking at either the number-two or three seed in the Division III Championship in two weeks.
 
Carthage opened the day with a hardfought loss to defending conference champions, Washington & Jefferson, who bested the Lady Reds for the second time this season.  The Lady Reds and the Presidents went back and fourth in scoring throughout the first quarter to see a 2-2 tie after the opening period.  Three goals by W&J in the second gave the Presidents a three-goal advantage at the halftime intermission. 
 
Three goals by Carthage in the third period cut the deficit to one twice, but each time Lady Reds goals were met with an answer by the Presidents.  A lone goal by Washington & Jefferson and a scoreless period by Carthage sealed the Lady Reds defeat, 8-5.
 
Allie Boothe and Jane Eckles led Carthage with two goals apiece in the match, while Amanda Boothe had one.  Carly Strass led the Lady Reds defensive effort with four steals and Am. Boothe added three as well.
 
In their final match of the weekend, Carthage jumped out to a 3-1 lead over hosts Penn State Behrend in the first period.  Despite leading throughout the first three periods, the Lady Reds were never able to establish solid control of the match and eventually saw the Lions tie the game at 6-6 with 5:11 remaining in the fourth.  However, Carthage finished the game on a 3-0 run behind goals from Strass, Am. Boothe and Eckles to decide the match in favor of the Lady Reds.
 
Three Lady Reds had multi-goal games against PSB, as Amanda Boothe and Jane Eckles each had a hat-trick and Allie Booth had a pair of goals.  Brittany Wallace capped off the scoring for Carthage with a single goal.
 
The Lady Reds return to action April 16th and 17th at the aforementioned 2016 Division III Water Polo Championship, which will take place at Connecticut College's Jane Caldwell Lott Natatorium in New London, Connecticut.  From there, the winner will advance to the CWPA Championship at Harvard University, set to be played April 29th- May 1st.