Box Score ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Augustana Vikings women's water polo team won their first-ever Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) championship on Sunday, defeating the No. 7 ranked Austin 'Roos in the title game by a score of 16-8.

The Vikings were responsible for the game's first three goals, seeing three straight scores from Casey Barragan to begin the opening quarter. The 'Roos broke the scoring surge from Augie with a tally around the five-minute mark, but were met with back-to-back goals from Olivia Parry and Carli Udovich to give the Vikings a 5-1 lead after eight minutes of action.

Following an Austin goal to begin the second, Augustana strung together a 4-0 scoring run. Abbey Ellis and Ocean Akau both appeared in the scoring column with scores, followed by two straight from Barragan. The 'Roos grabbed a late point to bring the score to 9-3 in favor of the Vikings at the halfway point.

Austin made it a game with three straight goals to begin the third quarter, cutting the margin to 9-6. The Vikings answered with a 3-0 run of their own to close the period, starting with Ellis' second tally of the contest. Maggie Caliendo added a goal to cushion the lead to five before Akau's score with 37 seconds remaining canceled out the three Austin goals and kept the six-goal differential intact. Augustana doubled up the 'Roos in the final quarter, out-scoring them 4-2 on their way to a 16-8 win. Jillian Hagmann and Annie Opal Dickson both sent goals into the net in the fourth, while Barragan and Ellis each added on to their totals with an additional score.

Barragan posted a team-high six goals and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player to go with her First Team All-Tournament selection. Teammates Lizzie Pelzman, who accumulated 16 saves in the title game, and Dickson were also named First Team honorees. 

With the win, the Vikings avenge last year's CWPA title game loss versus Austin, winning it this year in just their second year in existence as a program. Augustana improves to 16-5 on the season and will await their matchup in the semifinals of the USA Water Polo National Tournament to be held in early May. Location and times are still to be announced.