(PROVIDENCE, RI., Feb. 4) – The McKendree University women's water polo team is still searching for their first win of the season after falling to Hartwick College 15-9, and Bucknell University 12-3 at the Bruno Invite.
 
The Bearcats first took on Hartwick College at 12:40 p.m. EST. The first quarter of the game saw the Bearcats fall to a five goal deficit before sophomore attacker Jillian Hoffman (Prospect Heights, IL) netted her first goal of the season to cut the Hawks lead to four. The Bearcats came out flying in the second quarter, scoring three goals to cut the lead to one. Junior center Sabrina Sherrin (San Jose, CA/West Valley Junior College) scored the first goal of the second quarter for the Bearcats, with Hoffman netting two more before the Hawks struck back to take a 7-4 lead. Hoffman wasn't done scoring, however, adding two more goals before half-time. The Bearcats were down 8-6 at the halfway point. With just 11 players, the Bearcats tired out quickly, as they could only find the back of the net once, on a tally from freshman utility player Victoria Jones (Lodi, CA/Tokay High School). Hartwick added three in the third quarter to take an 11-7 lead. McKendree found two more goals in the final quarter, from Jones and Hoffman. However, the Hawks continued to score, taking a 15-9 victory over the Bearcats.
 
The second game of the day for McKendree came at 7:40 p.m. EST against Bucknell University. The tired Bearcats squad was held off the board for the first two quarters, falling to a 10 goal deficit. However, the Bearcats outscored their opponents 3-1 in the final two quarters. The third quarter saw two goals from the Bearcats, the first came from the arm of freshman attacker Brianna Mullalley (Chula Vista, CA/Eastlake High School). The second goal of the quarter came from Sherrin. Freshman attacker Catie Young (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Los Osos High School) scored the lone goal of the fourth quarter, but it would not be enough as McKendree fell 12-3.
 
The Bearcats are back in action on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. EST for their final contest of the Bruno Invite against Villanova University.