O'FALLON, Ill. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team earned its first win of the season, beating Carthage College 11-7 on Sunday morning at the final day of the Lischwe Memorial Invitational. The victory was the first career win for first year head coach Britt Connell.

The Bobcats (1-2) have scored 10+ goals in three straight games for the first time in program history.

Kiryn Wicker led the Bobcats with a career-high tying four goals. It is the sixth time Wicker has dented the twine four times in a match in her young career.

Ava Faria had two goals and two assists, while Claudette Asenjo added two goals and three steals. Piper Ferris, Breyenne Pierce, and Makayla Hemphill scored a goal each.

The Bobcats led 6-0 after the first quarter, marking the most goals in a frame since March 1, 2025. Faria scored on the Bobcats first possession of the game and Asenjo and Wicker followed on the ensuing trips up the field. Three of the Bobcats six first quarter goals came on a power play. Also of note, the Bobcats first quarter shutout was their first since February 28, 2025. UC Merced forced five first quarter turnovers and freshman Abigail Shapiro made the only save she was tasked with.

Carthage found the back of the net twice in the first two minutes of the second quarter. Wicker got one of those goals back, but Carthage answered and it was a 7-3 Bobcats lead at halftime.

Carthage found more success in the third quarter, pitching a shutout and scoring three more goals to make it 7-6 going into the fourth quarter.

Wicker snapped the Bobcats scoring drought at the 5:06 mark of the final frame to push the Bobcats lead to 8-6. Her goal sparked a 4-0 goal-scoring run to win the game. Wicker scored again at the 2:50 mark which came in between Asenjo and Hemphill goals.

Shapiro finished with four saves and two steals in her collegiate debut.

Up next, UC Merced will play at Cal State Monterey Bay in the WWPA opener on Friday, February 20 at 5:00pm in Seaside, Calif.