O'FALLON, Ill. - McKendree University women's water polo recorded its first win of the season over Augustana College this past Saturday at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex in O'Fallon. The Bearcats posted a dominating 19-6 win over the Vikings to improve to a 1-4 overall record for the season.

The Bearcats started the game strong, sinking their first goal in the first minute of the game, courtesy of senior attacker Courtney Smith. By the end of the first period, McKendree had netted six goals to Augustana's one.

McKendree pressed on, matching its first-period goals in the second period with six. The Bearcats held a commanding 12-1 lead heading into the second half of play. Each team recorded three goals each in the third period, but the Bearcats' lead proved out-of-reach for the Vikings. McKendree sealed the win, 19-6.

Leading the Bearcats in scoring was fifth-year senior center Abigail Burton with five of the Bearcats' 19 goals in the victory. Along with Burton, Smith tallied four goals while graduate student attacker Jaleh Moaddeli added three. Moaddeli topped the assists for McKendree, dishing out five of the Bearcats' eight.

Defensively, McKendree amassed 20 steals as six Bearcats snagged two or more steals in the win. Senior utility player Katelyn Rodrigue accounted for a team-high four steals. In addition to Rodrigue, freshman attackers Dylan Murphy and Jazmin Sandoval added three steals each.

Two Bearcats held the net for McKendree as sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Kane recorded six saves, one steal, and one assist, and junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Kasper collected two saves, one steal, and one assist.

Up next, McKendree women's water polo will travel to St. Paul, Minn. for the Macalester Invitational hosted by Macalester College. The Bearcats kick off the invitational on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. against Ottawa University (Az.) followed by a 2 p.m. game against Macalester. On Sunday, Feb. 19, McKendree faces Virginia Military Institute at 9 a.m. and Caltech at 2 p.m.