Lindenwood split two games on Saturday, falling in a heartbreaker to No. 5 ranked San Diego State 6-5, but then rebounding for a convincing 21-12 victory over No. 19 ranked Boston College at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Women's Collegiate Club National Championship at Rolf's Aquatic Center in South Bend, Indiana. 

In the morning contest against the Aztecs, defense and missed opportunities were the themes of the first half.  Each team only scored once, but the Lions missed two five-meter penalty shots, and failed to capitalize on three man-advantage chances.  Paige Miller did net the first goal for the Lindenwood with just under a minute remaining in the first quarter.  San Diego State also faced frustration with a missed penalty shot and unused power play chances, but the Aztecs did succeed once with the man advantage in the second and the game went to halftime tied at one.

The offense opened up more in the second half with the Lions taking another one-goal lead off the arm of Abby VerMeer, but San Diego State found the equalizer two-and-a-half minutes later to tie the contest once again, and took a 3-2 lead with just over 100 seconds remaining in the third.  Hanna Muller ripped a penalty shot to the back of the cage for Lindenwood 15 seconds later to even things again, but the Aztecs only needed 16 more seconds to retake the lead which held at 4-3 as the quarter ended. 

San Diego State built the biggest cushion of the game in the fourth with goals at 1:20 and 5:06 to make it 6-3, but the Lions still had some fight left.  Muller fired two missiles within 48 seconds of each other to get Lindenwood just one shot away from tying the contest, but that equalizing shot never came.

Muller led the Lions with a hat trick of goals and she also earned an assist and had five steals.  Boccia earned an assist as well with Naomi Sanders, Noelle Redman, Kayla Hamilton, and Emily Kini each getting a steal.  Betsy Zanocco made eight saves and had two steals in goal.  Lindenwood went 2/10 in man-advantage chances while holding the Aztecs to 4/9.

With their chances at a national title ended, the Lions regrouped for an afternoon tilt with Boston College and came out roaring with six of the first seven goals to take a 6-1 lead after the first quarter. Lindenwood blitzed the Eagles again in the second with a 7-1 barrage to lead 13-2 at halftime.  With the game under control, Lions Head Coach Dave Miller went deep into his bench in the second half.  Boston College was able to cut into deficit, outscoring Lindenwood 6-3 in the third, but the advantage was still eight.  The Lions added five markers in the fourth while yielding four for the final margin.

VerMeer paced the offense with six goals, followed by Muller with four; and Kini, Sanders, and Miller with a hat trick each.  Redman and Boccia eached netted single tallies.  Zanocco stopped 10 shots in goal as Lindenwood went 4/6 on man-advantage chances and held Boston College to a 5/16 effort. 

With the victory, the Lions advanced to the fifth-place game against the University of Washington.  The No. 7 ranked Huskies advanced with a 5-3 win over MIT in the third round.  The opening sprint is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Sunday morning at Rolf's Aquatic Center.