ST. PAUL, MINN.—The Carthage College women's water polo team returned to the pool after nearly a month away from competitive play on Saturday, when they squared-off against Wittenberg University and Macalester College on the opening day of the CWPA West Region II Tournament at the Riley Pool (Macalester) in St Paul, Minnesota. The Lady Reds put the finishing touches on a season sweep of Wittenberg with a 9-8 win before they lost to the host Macalester College 9-4 later in the day.
 
The split gives the Lady Reds a 2-8, 2-4 CWPA record after Saturday.
 
Lady Reds 9, Wittenberg 8 (Box Score)
 
The Lady Reds were led by Arianna Dakuras's hat trick, followed by two-goal games from Maddi Marsh and Morgan Fingerson. Meghan Fisher and Kayli Sayatovic each contributed a goal for the Lady Reds, who found themselves in a 2-1 hole after the opening quarter. Carthage outscored Macalester 4-3 in the second quarter, which resulted in a 5-5 tie at halftime.
 
Both team tallied a pair of third-quarter goals before Carthage outlasted the Tigers with a 2-1 fourth quarter, which secured them a 9-8 victory. Lady Reds goalie Emma Jeronimus posted a complete-game effort in the win.
 
Savanah Phillips notched a hat trick for Wittenberg.
 
Macalester 9, Lady Reds 4 (Box Score)
 
Lady Reds goalie Emma Jeronimus tallied six-saves in the losing effort. Her offensive support came from Maddi Marsh's two goals on four shots. Dakuras and Fingerson each notched a goal for the Carthage offense.
 
Oriana Galasso posted a game-high four goals for the Scots, while teammate Courtney Overland made eight saves in net.
 
The Lady Reds will face Austin College (8:00 a.m.) and Monmouth College (11:30 a.m.) on day two of the CWPA West Region Tournament II tomorrow, Sunday, March 31 at Macalester's Riley Pool in St. Paul, Minnesota.