CLAREMONT, CA – The Pomona-Pitzer women's water polo team defeated Macalester College 23-2 in the semifinals of the USA Water Polo Division III National Championships Saturday. The Sagehens will face CMS in the national championship game tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. PT. 

The Sagehens were led by Lisbon Zeigler, who secured four goals in the win. Natalie Sullivan Wu, Mia Amberger, and Bella McGowan each added three goals. Ayva Magna, Sydney Bowns, Brienz Lang, and Ava Gurney each netted two goals, while Gabby Lewis contributed one. 

Pomona-Pitzer built a strong lead and scored 12 goals in the first half, four in the first quarter and eight in the second. Magna put the Sagehens on the board with a goal with 7:35 left in the period. Bowns then followed with one goal at the 6:02 mark, and Zeigler scored one during a power play with 3:46 left on the clock. Lang capped the quarter with a penalty goal at the 2:00 mark, sending Pomona-Pitzer into the second quarter ahead 4-0. 

Zeigler quickly started the scoring in the second quarter and found a goal with 7:31 left in the period. Lang soon earned another one at the 7:01, Amberger picked up a goal with 6:24 left on the clock, and Zeigler followed with a goal at the 5:56 mark to push the Sagehen lead to 8-0. Amberger scored again with 5:14 left on the clock, before Sullivan Wu found the net twice, at the 2:51 and 1:06 mark. Lewis closed out the half by scoring a goal with 0:37 left in the period, giving Pomona-Pitzer a striking 12-0 lead as the match entered halftime. 

The Sagehens kept up their efforts and earned 11 more goals in the third and fourth quarters. Zeigler opened the scoring with a goal at the 6:59 mark. Macalester managed to find a goal, but Amberger earned goal during a power play with 6:35 left in the third period. Macalester found another goal, but Magna responded with a goal at the 4:22 mark, pushing Pomona-Pitzer ahead 15-2. Bowns picked up a goal during a power play with 3:50 left on the clock, and McGowan followed with one at the 0:56 mark. The Sagehens entered the fourth quarter leading 17-2. 

Lang maintained the momentum and secured a goal with 4:48 left in the period, Gurney followed with one at the 4:23 mark, and McGowan scored back-to-back goals at with 2:56 and 2:24 left on the clock. Sullivan Wu added another one at the 1:53 mark, and Gurney sealed the 23-2 victory with a final goal with 0:10 left on the clock. 

Up Next: Pomona-Pitzer women's water polo will compete against the Athenas in the USA Water Polo National Championship at CMS tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 26th at 12:30 p.m. PT.