CALIFORNIA - The Carthage College women's water polo team competed in the Convergence Tournament. Over two days of play, the Firebirds landed at 0-4 on the weekend. 


Game One

• Final score: Carthage 14 - Caltech 15
• Location: Los Angeles, Calif.

Game Two

• Final score: Carthage 14 - Occidental 15
• Location: Los Angeles, Calif.

Game Three

• Final score: Carthage 9 - Redlands 11
• Location: Orange, Calif.

Game Three

• Final score: Carthage 12 - Chapman 21
• Location: Orange, Calif.

Game One

• Carthage opened the game strong, taking an early lead in the first period. Kiera Crawley got the Firebirds on the board before Grace Steinberg followed with a goal shortly after. Kamille Graham added an extra-player goal to give Carthage a 3–1 advantage midway through the quarter. Caltech responded with two late goals to tie the game at 3–3 heading into the second period.
• The teams traded goals throughout the second period. Mak Werner scored twice for Carthage, both assisted by Brenna Carstens, while Morrigan Bushroe-Stumpf found the back of the net in the final seconds of the half. The game remained tied at 6–6 going into halftime.
• The Firebirds put together their strongest offensive stretch in the third period, scoring five goals. Werner converted a penalty shot, while Steinberg and Crawley each added goals. Carstens scored on an extra-player opportunity, and Steinberg tallied again late in the period to help Carthage take an 11–10 lead.
• Caltech responded in the fourth and fifth periods to regain momentum. Yamila Areizaga scored for the Firebirds in the fourth, and Werner added another goal in the fifth, but the Beavers continued to find the net to maintain a narrow lead.
• In the sixth period, Graham scored an extra-player goal to bring Carthage within one, but Caltech answered late to secure the 15–14 victory.

Game Two

• Carthage and Occidental opened the contest trading goals in an evenly played first period. Crawley led the early charge for the Firebirds, finding the back of the net twice in the opening frame. Areizaga and Werner also added goals as Carthage kept pace with the Tigers. Occidental answered throughout the quarter behind a pair of goals from Wilde, and the teams finished the period tied 4–4.
• The Firebirds continued to generate offense in the second period. Areizaga added two more goals to complete a hat trick before halftime, while Steinberg and Graham also contributed scores. Carthage converted multiple extra-player opportunities to stay within reach, but Occidental maintained a narrow advantage thanks to balanced scoring. The Tigers carried an 8–7 lead into halftime.
• Carthage regained momentum in the third period. Crawley completed a four-goal performance with two more tallies, and Todd added a goal during a power-play opportunity. Machuca also scored as the Firebirds continued to apply pressure offensively. Despite the strong offensive output, Occidental responded with timely goals of its own, keeping the game tight heading into the final period with the Tigers leading 12–11.
• The final period remained closely contested as both teams traded goals. Graham scored, the second of the game for Graham, and Werner added another for the Firebirds as Carthage tried to erase the deficit. Occidental managed to hold its slim lead down the stretch, however, scoring key late goals to secure the 15–14 victory.

Game Three

• Both teams traded goals early as the opening period featured fast-paced offense. Redlands struck first before Carstens responded with a power-play goal off an assist from Werner to tie the game. Graham followed with a penalty-shot conversion to give Carthage its first lead. The Bulldogs answered with back-to-back goals to regain the advantage, but Crawley evened the score again with a late goal assisted by Werner. After Redlands took a one-goal lead with under 30 seconds left, Graham responded just seconds later with a goal from an assist by Edie Hamilton. The teams ended the quarter tied, 4–4.
• Defense dominated the second period as both sides limited scoring chances. Redlands managed the only goal of the quarter, converting a penalty shot midway through the period. Despite several opportunities for the Firebirds, the Bulldogs carried a narrow 5–4 lead into halftime.
• Redlands extended the lead early in the third quarter, but Carthage quickly answered when Areizaga found the back of the net off a pass from Machuca. The Bulldogs added another goal later in the period before Carstens scored a second goal of the game on a power play with an assist from Graham. After three quarters, Redlands maintained a slim 7–6 advantage.
• Carthage opened the final period strong as Graham converted another penalty shot to tie the contest at 7–7. Redlands responded with a pair of goals to regain momentum. Crawley cut the deficit to one with a goal assisted by Werner, but the Bulldogs scored twice more in the closing minutes to stretch their lead. Carstens netted a late goal in the period, assisted by Werner, but Carthage was unable to complete the comeback as Redlands secured the 11–9 victory.

Game Four

• Chapman opened the game with a strong offensive surge, scoring seven unanswered goals to take a 7–0 lead after the first period. Carthage had early opportunities but was unable to convert as the Panthers capitalized on their possessions and controlled the momentum heading into the second quarter. 
• The Firebirds found their rhythm offensively in the second period, scoring five goals. Werner put Carthage on the board with a goal assisted by Todd. Steinberg followed with an exclusion goal before Areizaga added another on a power play. Graham then scored back-to-back goals, both assisted by Werner, to close the half. Despite the offensive push, Chapman added five goals of its own to take a 12–5 lead into halftime.
• Carthage continued to battle in the third quarter with three goals. Crawley started the scoring for the Firebirds off an assist from Veronica Gut. Areizaga later converted a penalty shot, and Graham completed the hat trick with an exclusion goal. Chapman answered with six goals in the period, extending its lead to 18–8 heading into the final quarter.
• The Firebirds closed the game with four goals in the final frame. Sydney Barkley scored twice, including an exclusion goal, before Werner added a second goal of the match. In the final second, goalkeeper Edie Hamilton scored to cap the Carthage scoring. Chapman recorded three goals in the quarter to secure the 21–12 victory.

Game One

• Werner led the Firebirds offensively with four goals and two assists. Steinberg followed with three goals, while Graham contributed two goals, three assists, and five steals. Crawley added two goals and an assist, and Carstens finished with one goal and three assists. Bushroe-Stumpf recorded eight saves in goal.
• Carthage finished the match with 28 shots and scored 14 goals, including four on the power play and one penalty-shot conversion.

Game Two

• Crawley and Areizaga led the Firebirds with four goals each, while Graham added two. Steinberg, Todd, Werner, and Machuca each contributed a goal in the balanced offensive effort.
• Carthage finished the match with 14 goals on 30 shots and had seven different players score.

Game Three

• Graham and Carstens led the Firebirds with three goals each, while Crawley added two. Areizaga contributed one goal. Werner facilitated the offense with four assists, and Hamilton recorded nine saves in goal.
• Carthage College finished the game with 9 goals on 30 shots.

Game Four

• Graham led Carthage with three goals, while Werner finished with two goals and two assists. Areizaga and Barkley each added two goals for the Firebirds.
• The Firebirds totaled 12 goals on 25 shots. 

The Firebirds are back in action in the Koenitzer Aquatic Center for the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) West Tournament. If you are unable to make it to the game, catch all the action live on our Carthage Athletics YouTube page or https://cciwnetwork.com/. For more information, visit our athletics.carthage.edu.