O'FALLON, Ill. – McKendree University women's water polo opened its 2022 season here Saturday afternoon by posting a 20-9 win over Augustana College at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex Pool.
The victory marked the fifth straight win for the Bearcats in a season opener and the 20 goals were the most scored in a season opener by McKendree since tallying 23 goals in the 2020 opener against Wittenberg University. In addition, the 20 goals were the most for the Bearcats since scoring 28 goals against Penn State Behrend at the Washington & Jefferson Invitational on Feb. 22, 2020.
In Saturday's season opener, McKendree (1-0) got multiple goals four different players, including eight goals and two assists for 10 points from graduate student utility player Jaleh Moaddeli (Newport Beach, Calif./George Washington University). In addition to Moaddeli, junior Katelyn Rodrigue (Brentwood, Calif./Heritage) added four goals and an assist for five points, while freshman center Sofia Dominguez (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson) had three goals. The other Bearcat with multiple goals was senior attacker Carley Manuel (Lantana, Texas/Guyer).
The Bearcats scored five goals each in the first and second periods to lead 10-2 at the half. In the third period, the Bearcats outscored the Vikings, 4-3 to lead 14-5, before tallying six goals in the fourth period.
Moaddeli scored the first game of the game just 19 seconds into the game and would add the fifth goal of the period with 1:41 left. Dominguez would score the second and third goals, while Rodrigue scored the fourth goal of the game.
Moaddeli scored her third goal of the game in the opening 97 seconds of the second period to give the Bearcats a 6-0 lead. Augustana, who was playing its first-ever collegiate women's water polo game, got on the scoreboard thanks to a goal by Maggie Caliendo just two-plus minutes into the second period.
The Bearcats would answer Caliendo's goal by scoring four straight times to push out to a 10-1 lead, before Ocean Akau gave the Vikings its second goal with 1:48 left in the second period.
McKendree would score three of the first four goals of the third period to push out to a 13-3 lead, before Augie closed the quarter by scoring two of the final three goals to drop McKendree's lead to 14-5 after three periods.
The Bearcats opened the fourth quarter by five straight goals to push in front 19-5 with 5:09 left in the period. Moaddeli scored two of the Bearcats' five goals. Augie would score four the game's final five goals to set the final score.
Augie got four goals and two assists for a total of six points from Alyssa Fricker, while Victoria Guest added two goals and an assist for three points in the loss.
For the game, McKendree recorded 28 shots, including nine from Moaddeli and four from Rodrigue. Augie took 13 shots with Fricker taking four of those 13 shots.
McKendree also had 16 steals in the win as Moaddeli, senior center defender Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach) and freshman goalie Sydney Kane (Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) each had three steals in the win.
Kane played all 32 minutes in goal and recorded eight saves and allowed nine goals for a .471 save percentage.
Lizzie Pelzman and Lanie DaSilva each played a half in goal for Augie as Pelzman was credited with the loss after allowing 10 games and recording one save. DaSilva would allow 10 goals and record two saves.
The Bearcats will return to action next weekend (Feb. 19-20) as they travel to Erie, Pa., to compete in the Robinette Invitational hosted by Mercyhurst University. McKendree will open the even with an 11:30 a.m. ET game on Feb. 19 against Penn State-Behrend, before facing Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 19 at 3:15 p.m. ET and then concluding the event with a 9 a.m. ET game on Feb. 20 against Villanova.
