(WASHINGTON, Penn., Feb. 24) – The McKendree University women's water polo team closed out the Washington and Jefferson Invite on Sunday by splitting its two games against Villanova University and Gannon University to go 3-1 on the weekend.
 
The Bearcats sit at 5-3 overall on the season.
 
Game One
Junior Tiana Wilson (Orange County, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) got the Bearcats ahead early with a goal just a minute into the contest. The Wildcats answered back with two goals to take the lead. Freshman Abby Burton evened the score at one. Villanova took a two goal lead shortly after. Sophomore Emily Westlove (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central High School) and junior Brianna Mullalley (Chula Vista, CA/Eastlake High School) each netted goals to even the score at four. The Wildcats added a goal with under a minute to take a 5-4 lead after the opening period.
 
Mullalley and Westlove scored their second goals to tie the game at six. Villanova took back the lead until freshman Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School) scored her first goal of the game. Westlove added her third and fourth goals of the game while freshman Kaitlyn Moguel (Tujunga, CA/Crescenta Valley High School) netted her first to bring the game even at 10 going into halftime.
 
Westlove scored the lone goal for the Bearcats in the third period while Villanova carried a one goal lead going into the final eight minutes.
 
Mullalley, Moguel, and freshman Maddy Bolton (Alta Loma, CA/Los Osos High School) added goals in the fourth period to elevate the Bearcats above Villanova for a 14-13 victory.
 
Junior goalie Kim Fay (Lake Oswego, OR) made four saves and added in two steals on defense.
 
Game Two
Gannon went ahead early with a goal 52 seconds into the game. Mullalley and Moguel added in goals as the two teams alternated goals. The Golden Knights went up by three before Moguel cut into the lead just before the end of the period.
 
Westlove scored her first two goals of the match for the only McKendree goals in the second period. Gannon added in three more to take an 8-5 lead into halftime.
 
In the third period, Bolton netted the lone goal for the Bearcats as the Golden Knights extended their lead, scoring four goals.
 
Moguel scored her third goal of the game to open up the final period. Westlove brought her scoring total to four goals after finding the back of the cage twice in the period. Gannon added another four goals to take a 16-9 victory over McKendree.
 
The Bearcats will return to the water on Thursday, Feb. 28 as they travel to California and open up play against the University of Redlands.