ST. PAUL, MN — The University of La Verne women's water polo team opened the Macalester Invitational in dominating fashion, defeating Monmouth 20-3 and Macalester 13-7.

Game One: La Verne 20, Monmouth 3

Ten different Leopards scored on the way to a commanding win over the Scots.

The Leopards got rolling early, scoring seven goals in the opening quarter. Jassmine Kezman scored two of her game-high five goals in the first quarter. The junior finished with two assists and a steal.

Ilene Guerrero scored a hat trick for La Verne with all three coming in the first half. Ashley Garcia, Jordan Ehara, Nanea Mattson, and Sona Aghasaryan each netted a pair of goals. Mattson led the Leopards with a pair of steals.

The Leopards got out to a 12-0 lead before the Scots were able to get onto the board late in the third quarter.

The Leopards ended the game with the same intensity as they started. La Verne closed out the contest with an eight-goal quarter spearheaded by a power-play goal by Kezman and added to it with makes by Candice Vorbeck and Mattson.

Shelby Garcia shutout the Scots in one half of work, racking up six saves and an assist on the way. Loreny Valdez stepped in the cage in the second half and grabbed six saves of her own.

Nancy Trinh and Melanie Gazazian each netted one goal. Kelly Riedel dished out two assists.

Game Two: La Verne 13, Macalester 7

The Leopards continued to roll on their final game of day one, blowing past host Macalester.

Trinh led the Leopards with three goals in the win, netting a pair of shots in the second quarter and another in the third to put La Verne up 10-5.

Guerrero scored a pair of goals, both in the second half as part of a La Verne 6-2 run. Kezman had a solid all-around game, leading her squad with three steals to go with one goal and one assist. 

Aghasaryan totaled two assists, one goal, and one steal. Christine Castrellon, Angelica Espinoza, Mattson, and Vorbeck each scored once. Sumi Rudisky added a pair of steals and one assist.

Garcia picked up the win a half of work and finished with five saves. Valdez added three steals.

After ending the first quarter up just 2-1, the Leopards poured on six goals in the second period to put the game away.

Next Game

La Verne concludes the Macalester Invitational with a pair of games tomorrow.