Box Score GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Augustana Vikings women's water polo team ended their first-trip to the CWPA DIII Championships with a second-place finish following a 18-7 defeat by the No. 5 ranked Austin 'Roos on Saturday. With the second-place standing, the Vikings clinch a spot in the inaugural USA Water Polo national championships to take place in early May.

Augie battled tough with the top-seeded 'Roos, finding themselves down just one after eight minutes of action. Ocean Akau accounted for the game's first score to give the Vikings the early lead, but the 'Roos bounced back with two straight to put them in front. Alyssa Fricker evened things up shortly after at 2-2, but Augustana was unable to ever grab a lead back as Austin ended the first period with a one-goal advantage. Olivia Hillhouse added the other score in the opening frame for the Vikings. 

Austin doubled up Augie at 6-3 early on in the second, but Lauren Dickinson brought the team back within two to stop the scoring run. The 'Roos countered with a 3-0 spurt to push their margin to its largest at the time before Fricker tallied her second score of the game to make it 9-5 heading into halftime. 

The game broke open in the third as Austin grabbed the first four goals to double their four-point advantage to eight. Akau and Charlotte Newport brought the Vikings back within six before Austin added two more before the end of the quarter. Augustana was unable to push any into the back of the net in the fourth and Austin pulled away with the 18-7 victory.

Following the game, the CWPA announced its all-tournament team, with Fricker landing on First Team while also claiming Rookie of the Tournament honors.

Augustana drops to 9-12 overall with the loss and will await the matchups of the USA Water Polo national tournament to take place in two weeks.