Box Score ERIE, Pa. -- The Augustana Vikings women's water polo team came up short on Thursday on the road, falling to Division I Mercyhurst in overtime by a score of 10-9. 

A low-scoring opening quarter kicked off the contest, with the home team Lakers notching the only tally of the first eight minutes to bring a 1-0 lead into the second. Each team scored twice in the ensuing period, with Ocean Akau and Charlotte Newport each countering strikes from Mercyhurst to keep the Vikings within a point. The Lakers led 3-2 at the halftime break.

Mercyhurst again saw a pair of two-goal margins to begin the third, but goals from Newport and Alayna Ickert maintained the one-point deficit for Augie. Trailing 5-3, the Vikings notched the final two scores of the quarter, with Maggie Caliendo sending one in the back of the net to post the equalizing tally around the three-minute mark. The two teams brought a 5-5 deadlock into the fourth.

The Lakers reclaimed momentum to begin the final frame, collecting the first two goals before Jersey Merrick inched the Vikings back within one around the halfway mark. With under two minutes remaining, Augustana sent into consecutive scores from Akau and Anais Jones to even the score and force overtime. 

In the extra session, Meryhurst out-scored Augie 2-1 through the first three minutes, with the Vikings seeing their lone tally come off a shot by Anita Rodgers. A defensive battle followed in the final three minutes, with neither team pushing the ball into the back of the net. With no time remaining, Augustana drew a penalty, but did not convert the penalty shot as the Lakers escaped with the one-goal win.

With the loss, the Vikings drop to 9-7 overal. The team will begin its second CWPA weekend tomorrow with games against Connecticut College and No. 8 Washington & Jefferson.