NORTON, Mass. -- The Augustana Vikings women's water polo team defeated the Penn State Behrend Lions on Friday in the opening game of the CWPA Championships by a score of 18-8.

The Vikings fired first with three straight goals within the first three minutes of action to take the early lead. Penn State Behrend followed with two successful shots to cut the deficit to one, but Augie outscored the Lions 3-1 in the final three minutes to take a 6-3 lead after the first quarter.

In the second, Mary King found the back of the net, and Carli Udovich followed two minutes later to stretch the difference to 8-3. Penn State Behrend tallied another before Olivia Parry and Abigail Gatilin found the back of the cage to move the game 10-4. The Lions found the final shot of the half, but Augie led 10-5 heading into halftime. 

Returning to action, Penn State Behrend scored once, and the Vikings followed with five goals to run away with the 15-6 lead. Successful in the third period came from Waiahuli Akau, Anais Jones, Cindy King, Anita Rodgers, and two by Sofia Boccalatte.

In the fourth, both teams found two goals, with the Vikings finding the last two with shots by Hailey Sherman and Maya Biela to secure the 18-8 victory.

14 Vikings scored in the win, with C. King leading with three, while Jones and Boccalatte followed with two. Biela collected three assists, while Sherman had three steals. In the cage, Jillian Hemming saved 11 attempts in her 32 minutes in goal.

With the win, Augie moves to 16-9 on the season and will be back in action tomorrow for the semifinal round against Carthage.