LEBANON - The Carthage College women's water polo team opened its 2026 season at the Lischwe Memorial Invite, hosted by McKendree. Over two days of play, the Firebirds went 0-3 with two coming from Division II programs, McKendree and UC Merced and Augustana. Brenna Carstens led the Firebirds offensively with 9 goals on the weekend. While Kira Jacobson held down the goalkeeping with 10 saves. 



Game One

• Final score: Carthage  5- Augustana 19
• Location: Lebanon, Ill.
• Records: Carthage (0-1, 0-1), Augustana (1-0, 1-0)

Game Two

• Final score: Carthage 16 - McKendree 18
• Location: Lebanon, Ill.
• Records: Carthage (0-2, 0-1), McKendree (2-0, 0-0)

Game Three

• Final score: Carthage 7 - UC Merced 11
• Location: Lebanon, Ill.
• Records: Carthage (0-3, 0-1), UC Merced (1-2, 0-0)

Game One

• The Firebirds struck first off a Mak Werner goal to kick off their season. Augustana quickly hit back with five goals of their own and did not look back. After the first half the score was a close 5-1 favoring the Vikings. Brenna Carstens hit the back of the net in the third quarter to add to the scoresheet. However, the Vikings continued their scoring frenzy into the third and fourth quarters out-scoring the Firebirds  14-3 in the second half making the final score 19-5. Veronica Gut hit the back of the net for her first collegiate goal. 

Game Two

• After a rough morning, the Birds made a quick turnaround to battle the home team of McKendree. Brenna Carstens started the scoring off with 2 back to back goals, followed by a Kamille Graham goal. The scoring didn't stop there with Kiera Crawley, Morrigan Bushroe-Stumpf, another Brenna Carstens goal, and three other firebirds made the score even at 10 going into halftime. The second half kicked off with three back to back Carstens goals. The Bearcats fought back to take the lead in going into the fourth quarter. The Birds fought back with timely goals from Crawley and two from Yamila Areizaga, but it wouldn't be enough to hold off the home team. 

Game Three

• The final game of the weekend was a defensive battle on both sides. UC Merced capitalized on Carthage's slow start, putting them up by five goals to none at the end of the first quarter. However, the Firebirds clawed their way back into the game with some timely stops in the cage from Kira Jacobson and a goal each from the trio of Grace Steinberg, Yamila Areizaga, and Brenna Carstens. Going into halftime, the score was a close 7-3. The third quarter was all Firebird goals coming from Kamille Graham (2), and Steinberg to bring the Birds within one (7-6). However, the Bearcats picked up where they left off in the first quarter, outscoring the Firebirds 4-1 (Veronica Gut) in the fourth quarter to close out the weekend. 

Game One

• Kamille Graham- 2 assists, 4 exclusions drawn, 2 5m drawn 
• Veronica Gut- 1 goal, 1 exclusion drawn 

Game Two

• Brenna Carstens- 7 goals, 2 assists, 9 points 
• Kiera Crawley- 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points
• Kira Jacobson- 4 saves, 2 steals 

Game Three

• Kira Jacobson- 4 saves, 2 steals, 1 assist 
• Grace Steinberg- 2 goals, 1 assist, 2 exclusions drawn, 1 field block 

The Firebirds are back in action on Friday, February 14, at the Macalester College Invitational. Carthage will face Virginia Military Institute, Macalester, Augustana, and Grove City over a two-day invite. For more information, visit our athletics.carthage.edu.