(ERIE, Penn., March 31) – The McKendree University women's water polo team split its final games at the Penn State Behrend Invite on Sunday. The Bearcats defeated the host Penn State Behrend 17-9 early in the morning before falling to Gannon University 14-9.
 
The Bearcats move to 8-11 overall on the season.
 
Game One
The Bearcats came out hot in the opening period, scoring six goals while shutting out Penn State Behrend. Junior Brianna Mullalley (Chula Vista, CA/Eastlake High School) opened the scoring for McKendree, recording back to back goals to start the game. Sophomores Emily Westlove (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central High School), Alaina Johnson (Mason, OH/William Mason High School), freshmen Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School), and Maddy Bolton (Alta Loma, CA/Los Osos High School) each added in goals during the period.
 
Once again, the Bearcat defense stood strong allowing just one goal from Lions during the second period. Mullalley scored her third goal of the contest to add back to the lead. Westlove added in two more goals to bring her total to three and Borelli netted her second of the game. McKendree led 10-1 heading into halftime.
 
In the third period, freshman Kaitlyn Moguel (Tujunga, CA/Crescenta Valley High School) found the back of the net for the first time. Johnson contributed her second goal and freshman Abby Kishimoto (Yucaipa, CA/Yucaipa, CA) buried her first goal of the game. The Lions scored just two goals as McKendree would lead 13-4 going into the final period.
 
Westlove put two more balls in the back of the cage to bring her scoring total to five. Freshman Mikayla Davis (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound High School) scored her first goal of the game and Moguel added in her second goal to close out the McKendree scoring. The Bearcats would go on to win the game 17-9 over the Invite host, Penn State Behrend.
 
Game Two
 Gannon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before Manuel and Westlove each scored to knot the game at two. Westlove would go on to score her second of the period and Borelli found the back of the cage to once again tie the score. The Golden Knights would go on to lead 5-4 after eight minutes of play.
 
Moguel would net the lone goal of the second period for the Bearcats as Gannon would find the back of the cage four times to lead 9-5 heading into halftime.
 
The third period would be no different than the second, as Manuel scored the single goal of the period for McKendree. Gannon scored twice more to carry a 11-6 lead into the final period.
 
Moguel, Westlove, and Borelli each added in goals in the fourth period but it wouldn't be enough as the Bearcats fell at the hands of Gannon, 14-9.
 
The women's water polo team will return to action on April 6-7 as they host their final home games of the season with contests against Mercyhurst University, Salem University, Monmouth College, and Carthage College at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.