ROCK ISLAND -- The No. 5 Augustana Vikings women's water polo team fell in a close battle to the No. 9 ranked Austin 'Roos on Sunday, defeated by a score of 8-5 in their final game of the weekend.

The low-scoring affair began with one goal each in the opening quarter. Casey Barragan notched the first score just over two minutes into the contest. Austin evened the score at the 1:07 mark to make it 1-1 after eight minutes of action.

The two teams mirrored one another again in the second period, this time posting two goals apiece. Abbey Ellis put the Vikings back out in front halfway through the frame, before Barragan broke a 2-2 tie with her second goal of the contest. The 'Roos earned the equalizer with four seconds remaining in the half to bring the score to 3-3 entering intermission.

Austin snagged their first lead of the game to start the third, but Charlotte Newport evened the score back up just 27 seconds later. The 'Roos went back out in front before Ocean Akau sent one into the back of the net with under a minute left in the quarter, pushing the score to 5-5 heading into in the fourth and final period. After five minutes of scoreless play, Austin broke away from the 5-5 deadlock, tallying three goals in the final three minutes to hang on for the 8-5 win.

The 'Roos out-shot the Vikings 36-24 in the contest, with Augie's defense anchored by Lizzie Pelzman's 15 saves in net.

With the loss, Augustana drops to 9-5 overall and 3-1 in the CWPA. The team will have a rematch with Austin their next time out on Saturday, April 1 in Kenosha, Wis. Start time is scheduled for 11 a.m.