O'FALLON, Ill. – McKendree University women's water polo opened Western Water Polo Association play here Saturday as the Bearcats split its two games at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.
 
The Bearcats (10-4, 1-1 WWPA) opened the day with a hard-fought 10-8 win over Gannon (Pa.) University, before losing the second game of the day to Salem (W.Va.) University, 17-9.
 
In Saturday's two games, senior center Abigail Burton (Chino, Calif.Chino) led the way with seven goals and three steals, while senior attacker Maddy Bolton (Alta Loma, Calif./Los Osos) added four goals, four assists and two steals. Three other Bearcats scored a total of two goals on the day - junior center/utility Katelyn Rodrigue (Brentwood, Calif./Heritage), sophomore attacker Jasmin Guzman (Cicero, Ill./Morton East) and senior attacker Carly Manuel (Lantana, Texas/Guyer).
 
GAME 1 RECAP – McKENDREE 10, GANNON (PA.) 8
After the two teams played to a 3-all tie at the half, the Bearcats would outscore Gannon, 7-5 in the second half to collect its first conference win of the season.
 
Gannon jumped out to a 2-0 lead just four minutes into the game, before Burton scored the first of her four goals in the game with 1:35 left to put the Bearcats on the board.
 
The Bearcats would get outscored 2-1 in the second period as Burton scored both of McKendree's goals to help tie the game at 3-all.
 
Bolton would score two of her three goals in the opening five-plus minutes of the third period to give the Bearcats 5-3 lead. Gannon, though, would close the period by scoring two of the final three goals to trail 6-5 heading into the final period.
 
Bolton, Guzman and senior center defender Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach) would each score a goal to open the fourth period to push the Bearcats lead to 9-5 with 4:43 left in the game.
 
The Golden Knights (5-9, 0-1 WWPA), though, would use two straight goals from Nicole Wiemken to pull within 9-7 with 2:22 left. Burton would score her fourth and final goal with 1:52 left to give the Bearcats 10-7 lead.
 
Wiemken would cap the scoring on a goal with 54 seconds left to pull Gannon within 10-8.
 
Burton had four goals, while Bolton added three goals in the win.
 
The Bearcats were outshot, 32-26 in the game as Burton and Bolton combined for 11 shots, while Borelli and junior attacker Courtney Smith (Stockton, Calif./Sonoma State) each took four shots.
 
Gannon was paced offensively by five goals from Wiemken, while Julie Kreidinger added two goals in the loss.
 
Freshman Sydney Kane (Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) recorded 14 saves and added a steal and assist to earn the win in goal for the Bearcats.
 
Sydney Klakeg took the loss in goal for Gannon as she allowed 10 goals and made four saves and had one steal. 

McKendree Goals: Burton 4, Bolton 3, Borelli 1, Guzman 1, Rodrigue 1.
McKendree Assists: Guzman 2, Manuel 2, Bolton 1, Borelli 1, Kane 1, Price 1,
McKendree Saves: Kane 14
 
GAME 2 RECAP – SALEM UNIVERSITY 17, McKENDREE 9
Salem (10-15, 2-0 WWPA) outscored the Bearcats 11-3 in the first half and cruised from that point as the Bearcats would score six goals in the second half to cut the margin.
 
Burton paced the Bearcats with three goals, while Manuel added two goals and Bolton recorded three assists and a goal in the setback.
 
Salem jumped out to a 3-0 lead and led 6-1 with 1:11 left in the first period, before the Bearcats capped the scoring in the first period on a goal by Rodrigue with 18 seconds left.
 
The Tigers would score four more goals in the second period to lead 11-3 at the half. Bolton scored the Bearcats lone goal in the second period.
 
Salem grew its lead to 15-5 after three periods as they outscored the Bearcats, 4-2, in the third period. Burton and Guzman score the goals in the period for the Bearcats.
 
McKendree would find some offense in the fourth period as they outscored Salem, 4-2, in the period to cap the scoring. In the fourth period, Manuel would score two goals, while Burton and Smith scored the other goals.
 
Annefleur ten Bloemendal led Salem with seven goals and one assist, while Margherita Garibbo and Heather Lock each had three goals in the win.
 
Kane and sophomore Rio Tomlinson (Okemos, Mich./Okemos) each played in goal for the Bearcats as Kane made three saves and allowed 11 goals in the first half, while Tomlinson played the second half and made four saves and allowed six goals.
 
Philippa Piper played all 32 minutes in goal for Salem and allowed nine goals and made 10 saves in the win.

McKendree Goals: Burton 3, Manuel 2, Bolton 1, Guzman 1, Rodrigue 1, Smith 1.
McKendree Assists: Bolton 3, Price 1, Rafalo 1, Scanlon 1, Smith 1
McKendree Saves: Tomlinson 4, Kane 3.

The Bearcats will close out their 2022 home schedule with a 10:30 a.m. game on Sunday against Mercyhurst at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex Pool. Prior to the game, the Bearcats will honor their seniors in a pregame ceremony.

WWPA SATURDAY RESULTS FROM McKENDREE
Game 1 – McKendree 10, Gannon (Pa.) 8
Game 2 – Salem (W.Va.) 15, Mercyhurst (Pa.) 8
Game 3 – Gannon (Pa.) 10, Mercyhurst (Pa.) 8
Game 4 – Salem (W.Va.) 17, McKendree 9
 
WWPA SUNDAY SCHEDULE FROM McKENDREE
Game 5 – Gannon (Pa.) vs. Salem (W.Va.), 9 a.m.
Game 6 – McKendree vs. Mercyhurst (Pa.), 10:30 a.m.