(ORANGE, Calif., Mar. 3) – The McKendree University women's water polo team dropped an 8-5 decision to Chapman University on Sunday to close out its trip to California.
 
The Bearcats fall to 5-9 overall on the season.
 
McKendree got on the board first when freshman Mikayla Davis (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound High School) put the ball in the back of the cage. Just a minute later the Panthers evened the score. Freshman Maddy Bolton (Alta Loma, CA/Los Osos High School) put the Bearcats back ahead as McKendree would take a 2-1 lead into the second period.
 
Sophomore Emily Westlove (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central High School) scored the lone goal for the Bearcats in the second period. Chapman would answer back but McKendree took a 3-2 lead into halftime.
 
Chapman would tie the game at three just a minute into the third period. Freshman Kaitlyn Moguel (Tujunga, CA/Crescenta Valley High School) countered back with a goal of her own to put McKendree back ahead. The Panthers would rattle off three consecutive goals to take a 6-4 lead into the final eight minutes.
 
Moguel netted her second goal of the game for the Bearcats only goal in the fourth period as they would fall 8-5 at the hands of Chapman.
 
Moguel led the defense with a game-high five steals.
 
In the cage, freshman goalie Isabella Strimling () notched eight saves and added a steal.
 
The Bearcats will return to action on Mar. 17 as they host Lindenwood University for the 2019 home opener at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.