(CLAREMONT, Calif., Mar. 4) – The McKendree University women's water polo team went 0-4 at the 2017 Convergence Tournament on Friday and Saturday against Concordia University, Occidental University, California Baptist, and Azusa Pacific.
 
The Bearcats fall to 3-12 overall on the season, and still look for their first victory against a Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Varsity team this season. After completing tournament play, McKendree is set to play again on Sunday against the University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif.
 
McKendree vs. Concordia University – L (14-7)
The Bearcats were off to a tough start in the game as the Eagles held them scoreless, taking a 9-0 lead into halftime. Concordia struck first in the third quarter, but junior attacker Sabrina Sherrin (San Jose, CA/West Valley Junior College) answered back with a goal of her own just seven seconds later. The Eagles went on to score two more times before the Bearcats could return the favor, to take a 12-1 lead. Freshman attacker Victoria Jones (Lodi, CA/Tokay High School) was able to find the back of the net for McKendree with just 2:21 to play in the third quarter. Concordia was able to score once more in the quarter to extend their lead, but freshman attacker Brianna Mullalley (Chula Vista, CA/Eastlake High School) went on to beat the buzzer and close out the third quarter. The Bearcats opened the scoring in the fourth quarter on a shot from the hands of Mullalley. McKendree was able to find the back of the net again on a shot by Sherrin. The Eagles converted one last time to give them a 14-5 lead, with 4:49 remaining. Both Mullalley and Sherrin each netted one more goal each before the conclusion of the fourth quarter, but McKendree would eventually fall 14-7 to Concordia.
 
McKendree vs. Occidental University – L (14-8)
Occidental opened up scoring in the contest with two goals before the Bearcats could answer with goals of their own. Answering for McKendree was Mullalley on a pass from freshman attacker Catie Young (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Los Osos High School). The Bearcats struck again to tie the game 2-2, on a goal by Young. Occidental responded with a strong effort, scoring four unanswered goals. However, Sherrin added another goal for McKendree before the close of the first quarter, with sophomore attacker Jillian Hoffman (Prospect Heights, IL) registering the assist. At the end of the first quarter Occidental lead McKendree 6-4. The Bearcats opened scoring in the second quarter on a goal by Young just over two minutes in. Occidental answered with two goals of their own, but Jones netted one for McKendree before halftime to bring the Bearcats back within two goals. The Tigers found the back of the net three times in the third quarter, while the Bearcats scored just once on an effort by Mullalley. McKendree still trailed Occidental by a score of 11-6 after three quarters. The Tigers opened the fourth quarter with a goal, but freshman center defender Tiana Wilson ( Orange County, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) found the back of the net for her second goal of the season. Occidental scored two more times before the final buzzer, but Sherrin added another marker for McKendree with 52 seconds left. The Bearcats fell short, however, falling to Occidental by a final score of 14-8.
 
McKendree vs. #25 California Baptist University – L (18-3)
McKendree took on the No. 25 ranked Cal Baptist Lancers again in the Convergence Tournament after falling to them at the Hoosier Invite just last weekend. The Lancers found the back of the net twice in the first two minutes, but Mullalley had an answer to keep it 2-1. Cal Baptist was able to add five more before the close of the first quarter, to take a 7-1 lead into the second quarter. The Lancers found the back of the net six more times in the second quarter, while Young added the lone goal for the Bearcats giving Cal Baptist a 13-2 lead at halftime. McKendree was held scoreless as Cal Baptist added two goals in the third quarter. Young added the Bearcats third goal in the final quarter, but it would not be enough as the Lancers scored three times to take a victory with a final score of 18-3.
 
 
McKendree vs. Azusa Pacific University – L (18-2)
Azusa Pacific scored twice in the first quarter before the Bearcats answered. The answer came from Sherrin to bring McKendree back within one goal. Just one minute later Young tied the game up 2-2 beating the Cougars goaltender with a shot. The Cougars took the lead back with 1:25 to play in the first quarter and added one more to take a 4-2 lead heading into the second quarter.  The Bearcats were held off the scoreboard through the remainder of the game as Azusa Pacific scored 14 unanswered tallies to take an 18-2 victory over McKendree.
 
McKendree received 20 goals from five different goal scorers in the tournament. Mullalley and Sherrin each netted six goals, Young scored five, Jones scored two, and Wilson tallied one over the course of the four games.
 
McKendree vs. University of Redlands - L (11-6)
The Bearcats scored the only goal of the first quarter, which was a marker from sophomore attacker Jillian Hoffman (Prospect Heights, IL). However, the Bulldogs came out strong in the second quarter scoring five times. McKendree was able to tally one goal in the second quarter, which came from Sherrin. At halftime the Bearcats trailed the Bulldogs by a score of 5-2. Mullalley scored the only goal of the Bearcats lone goal in the third quarter, while Redlands was able to score four to extend their lead making the score 9-3. McKendree attempted a come back in the fourth quarter, firing three into the back of the Bulldogs net, but it would not be enough to lift McKendree over the University of Redlands. Young scored once in the fourth quarter, and Mullalley added two more, but the Bearcats fell 11-6 to the Bulldogs.

The Bearcats are back in action on March 25th and 26th for CWPA Midwest Club Division play, at the St. Peters Rec Plex in St. Peters, Mo.