Box Score 1 ST. PAUL - The Carthage College women's water polo team competed in the Macalester College Invitational. Over two days of play, the Firebirds went 1-3 on the weekend. 


Game One

• Final score: Carthage 9 - VMI 14
• Location: St. Paul, Minn.
• Records: Carthage (0-4), VMI (4-5)

Game Two

• Final score: Carthage 6 - Macalester 8
• Location: St. Paul, Minn.
• Records: Carthage (0-5), Macalester (2-0)

Game Three

• Final score: Carthage 9 - Augustana 12
• Location: St. Paul, Minn.
• Records: Carthage (0-6), Augustana (5-1)

Game Four

• Final score: Carthage 13 - Grove City 8
• Location: St. Paul, Minn.
• Records: Carthage (1-6), Grove City (0-4)

Game One

• VMI came out fast in game one, scoring five goals in the opening quarter. The Birds dented the twine early off a Kamille Graham catch-and-shoot to open the scoring for Carthage. The second quarter was goal-for-goal, with each side giving up four in the cage. Grace Steinberg got herself a hat trick in the third quarter to bring the Firebirds back within four. Carthage would only score three goals in the second half, coming from Morrigan Bushroe-Stumpf, Mak Werner, and Kaylin Machuca. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to compete with VMI's quick offense. 

Game Two

• Game two of the day started very similarly to game one. The Scotts capitalized on the Firebirds' slow start, scoring four goals in the opening quarter. Brenna Carstens was the lone scorer for Carthage in the opening quarter to make it 4-1 going into the second quarter. The Firebirds bounced back to hold Macalester to one goal in the second quarter, matching Carthage's sole goal from Mak Werner. The second half was a defensive battle on both sides. The Birds came out firing all on all cylinders in the third quarter, scoring a game-high three goals with goals from Carstens, Werner, and Kiera Crawley. Grace Steinberg would score the final goal for the Firebirds, but it would not be enough to beat the Scotts. 

Game Three

• Carthage kicked off game three of the weekend with an explosive five-goal quarter against Augustana. Brenna Carstens led the back with two back-to-back goals while Grace Steinberg and Kamille Graham notched one apiece. Augustana would rally back in the second quarter to outscore the Firebirds 4-0, making the score an even 5-5 going into halftime. The second half was a battle until the end, with both teams trading goals. Carstens added another two to the scoresheet while Yamila Areizaga kept the birds alive with two goals in the second half. Kira Jacobson's two penalty shot blocks would keep the Birds in contention.  Unfortunately, the Birds' 4 goals and defensive output would not be enough to keep up with the Vikings. 

Game Four

• Game four was all Firebirds the entire way through. A 5-1 first quarter would be enough to keep the momentum in Carthage's favor for the whole game. Kira Jacobson made some big saves for the 'Birds behind the cage to deny Grove City from taking the lead. Sydney Barkley and Malee Todd each notched their first collegiate goals in the first half to propel the Birds to a 7-4 lead going into the second half. Grove City gained some momentum in the second half, capitalizing on two man-up opportunities to bring the score within 3. A late goalie change for the Firebirds allowed for Edie Hamilton to finish the game off for the Birds, getting three saves of their own. 

Game One

• Grace Steinberg, 3 goals, 1 assist, 2 steals 
• Kira Jacobson, 9 saves, 3 steals, 1 assist 

Game Two

• Mak Werner, 2 goals, 2 assists

Game Three

• Brenna Carstens, 4 goals

Game Four

• Malee Todd, 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal
• Yamila Areizaga, 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 steals 

The Firebirds are back in action on Thursday, March 5, at California State Fullerton. For more information, visit our athletics.carthage.edu.