(CLAREMONT, Calif., March 2) – The McKendree University women's water polo team earned two victories on day one of the Convergence Tournament. The Bearcats defeated Caltech by a score of 23-6, and topped the University of La Verne 13-9.
 
The Bearcats move to 6-9 overall on the season with Friday's victories. McKendree will play two games again on Saturday, with the Bearcats facing off against the University of Redlands at 9 a.m. PST at Haldemann Pool, followed by a contest against Occidental College at 1 p.m. at Las Flores Park Pool. (Please note the game time change in the game against Occidental College).
 
GAME ONE
In Friday's first contest, McKendree took on Caltech. The Bearcats took a three goal lead early in the game with goals by sophomore attacker Brianna Mullalley, sophomore utility player Victoria Jones, and freshman attacker Alaina Johnson. The Beavers answered with a goal, but McKendree continued to pour on the offense in the first quarter. The Bearcats scored eight more before the close of the first quarter. Freshman attacker Emily Westlove notched three goals, senior attacker Sabrina Sherrin scored twice, and each Jones, junior attacker Jillian Hoffman, and freshman defender Hannah Sallenback scored once. McKendree held an 11-2 lead over Caltech after the first quarter.
 
Caltech struck first in the second quarter, but the Bearcats responded firing four goals past the Beavers goaltender. Jones scored first for McKendree, followed by a marker from sophomore attacker Valerie Sorondo, and two goals from sophomore attacker Catie Young. Caltech answered with another goal, but Young scored her third of the quarter with just one second remaining. The Bearcats were ahead 16-4 after two quarters of play.
 
Sherrin opened the third quarter with two goals for the Bearcats. Young, Jones, and freshman defender Samantha McGowan each netted one goal to round out McKendree's scoring in the quarter. The Beavers found the back of the net in the final minute of the quarter, but the Bearcats held a 21-5 lead at the close of third quarter. The fourth quarter saw just three goals, with Sallenback and Young notching goals for McKendree. The Bearcats grabbed a 23-6 victory over Caltech on Saturday morning.
 
GAME TWO
McKendree faced the University of La Verne in its second matchup of the day. The Leopards jumped out to a one goal lead, but Westlove fired a five-meter penalty shot past the goaltender to even the game up at one. La Verne responded with a goal of their own, but Westlove was good for two more goals along with a tally from Mullalley before the Leopards could answer again. Westlove netted her fourth of the quarter with just six seconds remaining to give the Bearcats a 5-3 lead after the first eight minutes.
 
La Verne found the back of the net twice in the second quarter before McKendree could respond. Westlove beat the Leopards goalie again on a pass from McGowan for the Bearcats only goal of the quarter. At halftime the Bearcats held a 6-5 lead over the Leopards.
 
Westlove buried two goals behind the La Verne netminder in the third quarter, before the Leopards could respond. La Verne answered with two goals, but McKendree had an answer. Sherrin and Mullalley each added markers before the close of the third quarter, giving McKendree a 10-7 lead heading into the final frame.
 
The Leopards cut the lead down to two with the first goal of the fourth quarter, but Sherrin, Mullalley, and Westlove put the game out of reach with three more goals. La Verne scored once more but it wouldn't be enough as McKendree earned the 13-9 win.
 
Westlove netted a game high eight goals in the contest to help lift McKendree over La Verne. Freshman goalie Crystal Armstrong guarded the cage for the Bearcats notching eight saves and adding one steal.
 
STATS 
Westlove led the Bearcats in scoring on Friday notching 11 goals and registering two assists. Sherrin netted six goals and added three assists on the day, with Young netting five goals and Jones and Mullalley each scoring four. Armstrong registered eight saves on the day, with senior goalie Gabby Madewell blocking six shots.