SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Carthage College women's water polo team fell in two matches on Saturday to start the 2021 season. 

In the first match against Penn State Behrend, Carthage (0-1) got a goal on the board first from Arianna Dakuras. After the Lions put in two of their own, Kayli Sayatovic found the back of the net to tie it at two. Penn State Behrend (3-1) regained control of the game with a lone goal however, Alyssa Sayatovic tied it at three. The Lions responded with two straight goals to head into the halftime break up 5-3. 

After Penn State Behrend found the back of the net twice, Dakuras collected her second and third of the game shrinking the deficit to 7-5. Following a Lions goal, the Firebirds added three unanswered goals from Meghan Fisher and Mary Gargano-Price tying it at eight. Penn State Behrend took the first game with two final goals 10-8. 

In the second game of the day, Wittenberg (3-1) started with a goal to go up early however, Taylor Woitesek tied it with a goal of her own. The Tigers responded with six goals to go up 7-1 until Alyssa Sayatovic found the back of the net cutting the margin to 7-2. Arianna Dakuras scored with 47 seconds left, shrinking the margin to five. Dakuras got her second goal of the game, changing the score to 8-4 until the Tigers responded with four goals. At the 2:53 mark, Dakuras tallied her third goal of the game. Though Carthage (0-2) got within 10, Wittenberg won the game 20-9. 

Next up, the Firebirds face Wittenberg in a rematch on Friday, March 26 starting at 2 p.m.

Quick Facts

• In game one, Meghan Fisher and Arianna Dakuras each had three goals apiece while Alyssa Sayatovic and Mary Gargano-Price ended the game with one. 
• Dakuras added three goals in game two finishing with six on the day while Fisher had two goals. 
• Freshman Taylor Woitesek tallied two goals in game two. 

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