ROCK ISLAND -- For the third straight season, the Augustana Vikings women's water polo team secured third place at the USA Water Polo Division III National Tournament, defeating Washington & Jefferson on Sunday by a score of 13-12 in sudden victory.

After over five minutes of scoreless play to begin the game, Charlotte Newport broke the deadlock with the first goal of the game at 2:55. The Presidents countered with one nearly two minutes later to pull even and make it a 1-1 game entering the second. Both offenses came alive in a high-scoring second period, with the Vikings out-scoring the Presidents 5-3 to take a 6-4 advantage into the halftime break. Anita Rodgers was the first to find the back of the net just 19 seconds into the frame, but was followed by three straight from Washington & Jefferson to flip the lead in favor of the visitors at 4-2. Rodgers halted the momentum with her second goal of the game 4:12 and the Vikings notched three more to close out the half in the final three minutes. Newport secured the equalizer at 2:43 prior to Jersey Merrick and Ocean Akau each collecting scores before the intermission. 

Augie extended the differential to three following the third quarter after out-scoring W&J 2-1 through the first eight minutes of the second half. Waiahuli Akau and Rodgers sent in shots to counter an opening tally from the Presidents and the bring the score to 8-5 with just one quarter left to play. Washington & Jefferson out-scored Augustana 4-1 through the final period, scoring the first three to tie the game and one more with five seconds remaining to draw even at 9-9. Anais Jones had the lone tally for Augie in the fourth.

The Vikings claimed a one-goal lead after the first over time season after seeing shots from Abigail Gatlin and Emma Blezien go into the net. Blezien moved the Augie lead out to two with the first strike of the three-minute session, but the Presidents again brought the game to a tie with a pair of scores in the final two minutes to force a golden goal situation.

The two teams traded stops through the first minutes of the sudden victory period, but Newport ended the contest with her third goal of the game at 1:34 to seal the win for the Vikings.

Newport and Rodgers led the team with three goals apiece, while Susan Palmentera-Reid earned the win in net after stopping 11 shots.

Following the tournament, Newport and W. Akau were named to the USA Water Polo All-Tournament Team.

Augustana ends the season with a 16-9 overall record.