NEW LONDON, Conn. -- For third time in as many years, the Augustana Vikings women's water polo team is heading to the CWPA Championship. The Vikings defeated the Washington & Jefferson Presidents on Saturday by a score of 16-10 to move on to the title game and clinch a berth in the upcoming USA Water Polo National Tournament.

Augie faced an early deficit against Washington & Jefferson after being out-scored 5-2 in the opening eight minutes of action. Charlotte Newport cut the Presidents' 2-0 lead in half with a score at 4:47 before grabbing her second of the quarter right before the end of the quarter. The hole for Augie grew out to as many as four on two different occasions in the second, but consecutive tallies from Newport and Ocean Akau in the final two minutes brought the Vikings back within two at the break.

Casey Barrragan and Newport accounted for the first two goals of the second half to pull Augie even, followed by a score from Annie Opal Dickson at the 5:11 mark to give the Vikings their first lead.  After a strike from Annelie McGhee, the Presidents notched two in a row to deadlock the score at nine apiece. Augustana added three goals to close out the period, including a last-second full-pool heavy from Susan Palmentera-Reid that trickled into the goal as time expired. The Vikings out-scored the Presidents 4-1 in the final frame to hang on for the six-point win.

Akau and Newport led the team with four goals apiece, followed by two each by McGhee and Barragan. Waiahuli Akau also scored once to go with her team-high three assists and Mary King led the way defensively with three steals, also notching her first career goal with the Vikings. Palmentera-Reid earned the win in net with six saves and four steals.

With the victory, Augustana improves to 18-3 overall. The team will face No. 10 ranked Austin tomorrow afternoon in the title game.