18U GIRLS
Maverick Doubles Host North Penn, 12-6, to Open Girls’ 18U Action at 2021 National State Challenge
LANSDALE, Pa. — Maddie Johnson, Merrill Gadsden and Maura O’Donnell each notched hat-tricks with three markers as Maverick opened Girls’ 18U competition at the 2021 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge by doubling host North Penn, 12-6.
Maverick never trailed in the game thanks to opening up a 2-1 lead by the conclusion of the first quarter prior to exploiting a second quarter 4-1 scoring surge to nab a 6-2 scoreboard advantage by halftime.
Leading 9-4 at the conclusion of the third quarter, Maverick outscored North Penn 3-2 in the waning moments of the game in coasting to a six-goal win.
Anna O’Malley, Bernice Fu and Abby Cooley also chipped in solo tallies for Maverick, while goalies Jasmine Thek (two saves) and Hazel Mullen (one save) split time in cage.
Paige Mitchell (three), Anna Evans (one), Brigid Carmody (one) and Sadira Ramic (one) accounted for North Penn’s offense in support of a three-save effort by netminder Katelyn Lynch.
18U BOYS
North Penn Defends Home Water Versus Wilson, 10-7, to Commence Boys’ 18U Play at 2021 National State Challenge
LANSDALE, Pa. — Matthew Harkrader claimed Player of the Game laurels by pumping in single goals in the first, second and third quarters prior to netting a pair in the fourth quarter for a game high five goals as host North Penn held off Wilson, 10-7, in the opening game of Boys’ 18U action at the 2021 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge.
North Penn never trailed in the game as the homestanding squad jumped ahead 2-0 by the 5:34 mark of the first quarter prior to exiting the frame with a 4-2 lead. Following a 2-1 margin the second quarter to acquire a 6-3 margin by halftime, North Penn kept Wilson at bay in the third quarter to enter the fourth quarter with an 8-5 margin on the scoreboard. From there, the teams repeated their third quarter pattern as both teams found the rear of the cage twice for the 10-7 final.
Owen Fritz chipped in pair for North Penn while Robert Freece, Nathaniel Rawa and Danny Mitchell each registered single strikes as the quartet equaled Harkrader to account for the other half of North Penn’s offense.
Goalies Daniel Dunigan (two saves) and Nevin Shaw (one save) handled the cage for the hosts.
Ben Gerhart (four), Kagen Boettner (two) and Chadd Corson (one) scored for Wilson.