(ERIE, Penn., March 30) – The McKendree University women's water polo team split its two games during the opening day of the Penn State Behrend on Saturday. The Bearcats were defeated by Villanova 16-15 and dominated Washington and Jefferson 22-6.
 
The Bearcats advance to 7-10 overall on the season following the two games.
 
Game One
The Wildcats got on the board first with a goal 38 seconds into the opening period. Freshman Carley Manuel () netted McKendree's first goal to tie the score at one. The two teams exchanged goals throughout the first period, but Villanova led 4-3 after eight minutes. Freshman Maddy Bolton (Alta Loma, CA/Los Osos High School) and sophomore Emily Westlove (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central High School) added in the two goals.
 
Junior Brianna Mullalley (Chula Vista, CA/Eastlake High School) scored her first goal of the match to cut the Wildcat lead to one. Freshman Abigail Burton (Chino, CA/Chino High School) and Manuel each added in another goal for the Bearcats but would still trail 7-6 heading into halftime.
 
McKendree tied the game at seven quickly into the third period following junior Tiana Wilson's (Orange County, CA/Mt. San Antonio College) first goal of the morning. Just a minute later, Westlove pushed the Bearcats ahead with her second goal. After Villanova tied the score, freshman Kaitlyn Moguel (Tujunga, CA/Crescenta Valley High School) put McKendree back ahead. Manuel put her third ball in the back of the cage to push the lead to two midway through the third period. The Bearcats carried a 11-10 lead into the final period of play after Westlove notched her third goal of the game.
 
Back and forth play ensued in the final period as the two teams once again exchanged goals back and forth. Westlove added two more goals in the period to bring her scoring total to five in the game. Mullalley and Moguel each scored their second goals of the match but Villanova came out on top, 16-15.
 
Game Two
Washington and Jefferson notched the first goal of the game McKendree would storm ahead 5-1 after the first period. Four different Bearcats scored a goal in opening period. Mullalley added in two goals while Westlove, Moguel, and freshman Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School) netted a goal apiece.
 
A dominate second period saw eight Bearcat goals while the McKendree defense allowed just two President goals. Moguel led the attack with three goals in the period to bring her total to four in the game. Mullalley scored her third of the contest while Westlove buried her second. Sophomore Alaina Johnson (Mason, OH/William Mason High School), Wilson, and Burton each added in their first goal of the game. McKendree led 13-3 after two periods of play.
 
The third period saw three different Bearcats jump on the scoresheet as freshmen Erin Haff (), Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School), and Mikayla Davis (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound High School) each put their first ball in the cage. Mullalley and Burton also added in goals to put McKendree up 18-5 going into the final period.
 
Continuing their offensive ways, the Bearcats poured in four more goals in the fourth period while just allowing a single President goal. Davis scored her second goal of the game while freshman Lili Castillo (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara High School) and Bolton contributed their first goals of the contest. Moguel netted her final goal to bring her total to five on the afternoon. The Bearcats dominated from start to finish, defeating Washington and Jefferson 22-6.
 
The Bearcats will be right back in the pool on Sunday as they close out the Penn State Behrend Invite against the host Lions from Penn State Behrend at 9:00a.m. ET and Gannon University at noon ET.