(ERIE, Penn., Feb. 15) – The McKendree University women's water polo team opened up play in the Mercyhurst Invite against the Virginia Military Institute and LaSalle University. The Bearcats fell to the Keydets 13-8 and the Explorers 15-11.
 
With the two losses, the Bearcats move to 2-2 on the early season. McKendree will close out with Bucknell University and Siena College on Sunday.
 
In the game against VMI, senior Brianna Mullalley (Chula Vista, CA/Eastlake High School) led the way with three goals. Sophomore Abigail Burton (Chino, CA/Chino High School) followed with two while junior Emily Westlove (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central High School), sophomore Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School), and junior Alaina Johnson (Mason, OH/William Mason High School) each chipped in a single goal.
 
Sophomore Abby Kishimoto (Yucaipa, CA/Yucaipa High School) led the game with two assists. Westlove and freshman Delaney Hall (Napoleon, OH/Napoleon High School) both added in assists as well.
 
Defensively, Borelli led with two steals. Freshman Shoshana Scanlon (Orlando, FL/Olympia High School), Westlove, Bolton, Burton, and sophomore Erin Haff (Memphis, TN/Saint Benedict at Auburndale) counted one steal apiece.
 
In the cage, sophomore goalie Isabella Strimling (Brentwood, CA/Heritage High School) made 12 saves, adding in one assist.
 
Against LaSalle, Mullalley once again led with four goals in the game, bringing her total to seven on the day. Bolton contributed three scores while Westlove, freshman Katelyn Rodrigue (Brentwood, CA/Heritage High School), freshman Lindy Justice (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada/Vimy Ridge Academy) and Burton netted a single goal.
 
Hall led the offense with two assists, Kishimoto, Borelli, and Johnson chipped in single helpers in the game.
 
On defense, Mullalley, Westlove, sophomore Lili Castillo (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara High School), and Borelli led with one steal. Strimling made eight saves in the game, adding in one steal and one assist. Scanlon made an appearance in the cage, making two saves.