SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The women's water polo team is continuing its time on the road as they will now head to Saint Paul, Minnesota for the annual Macalester Invitational, which will be hosted by Macalester College at the Riley Pool inside the Leonard Center.
The first pair of matches will take place on Saturday, February 15th, and will be against Ottawa University Arizona at 10:00 PM CT, followed by a game with the host DIII No.7 Macalester College at 2:30 PM CT. On the next day on Sunday, February 16th, will begin with a match against the Virginia Military Institute at 9:00 AM CT and conclude the tournament with Caltech at 2:00 PM CT.
All contests will be streamed live for free on the MIAC Sports Network app or online at miacsportsnetwork.com/macalester/. Live stats will not be provided for the event, albeit a box score will be provided for each game later in the day at mckbearcats.com. See below for specific streaming destinations.
BEARCATS CURRENTLY
In their best start in program history, McKendree sits at 7-3 overall after snagging a pair of victories in Rock Island, Illinois last Saturday over the host DIII No.6 Augustana College and Carthage College.
In the win over Augustana, the Vikings started with a 2-1 edge in the opening minutes of play, but the Bearcats connected on five straight goals soon after to put them up by four. Augustana stopped the bleeding momentarily late in the second quarter with a goal, but junior attacker Joey Rebelo (Montreal, Québec) helped spurt a 3-0 run with her third goal of the game and ultimately held on to win 9-5.
Later on Saturday against Carthage, the Firebirds got hot early like the Vikings, jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the early goings as McKendree responded with a hot eight straight scoring run that lasted in the midst of the second period of play. After Carthage dropped in a pair of goals to end the second quarter and begin the third quarter, the Bearcats reeled in four more straight scoring possessions and eventually come victorious again, winning 13-7 behind sophomore center Bella Morquecho's (Chicago, Ill.) four goals.
On a light weekend slate that saw a well-balanced team effort in two controlling wins, Morquecho was one of the most impactful of the bunch. Morquecho averaged 3.0 goals (6 total), 0.5 drawn exclusions (1 total), and 1.0 steals (2 total) in the two games played this past weekend on a 66.6% (6-for-9) shooting percentage. The sophomore leads the team in goals (26) and drawn exclusions (40) while being third in shooting percentage (55.3%). The Chicago, Illinois native ranks at the top of the WWPA currently in total goals (1st – 26), total points (2nd – 27), goals per game (1st – 2.6), and points per game (5th – 2.7).
Senior goalkeeper Sydney Kane (Kankakee, Ill.) allowed the fewest goals (12) for any team in the WWPA this weekend despite being the only team to have played multiple games. Kane averaged 7.5 saves (15 total), and 3.0 steals (6 total) in the two games played this weekend in 56:00 out of 64:00 minutes played combined. The senior is top in the WWPA in total steals (1st – 14), total saves (1st – 101), save percentage (1st – 55.2%), goals-against average (2nd – 8.86), saves per game (1st – 10.1) and steals per game (2nd – 1.4). The Kankakee, Illinois native is top nationally as of February 8th in total steals (8th – 14), total saves (1st – 101), save percentage (2nd – 55.2%), goals-against average (4th – 8.86), saves per game (1st – 10.1), and steals per game (9th – 1.4).
With both players shining bright in the two-game weekend, both Morquecho and Kane received Offensive and Defensive WWPA Player of the Week honors respectively on Wednesday.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Ottawa University Arizona | Saturday, February 15th, 10:00 AM CT
Last Matchup: W, 10-9 on 2/17/2024 | RECAP | BOX SCORE
This will be the third-ever meeting between the two programs. McKendree beat OUAZ in each of the last two years, both at the Macalester Invitational including a recent 10-9 thrilling victory in 2024.
This weekend will be the first time the Spirit has taken the waters in competition this season. They went 10-13 overall last season, including going 3-0 in the NAIA Championships.
DIII No.7 Macalester College | Saturday, February 15th, 2:30 PM CT
Last Matchup: W, 5-3 on 2/17/2024 | RECAP | BOX SCORE
This will be the third-ever meeting between the two programs, as McKendree beat Macalester in each of the last two years, both at the Macalester Invitational with recently last year being a low-scoring 5-3 win in the 2024 season.
This weekend will be the first time the Scots have taken the waters in competition this season as they placed at number seven in the Women's Varsity Division III Top 10 on Wednesday. They went 14-5 overall and 7-1 in CWPA play last season.
Virginia Military Institute | Sunday, February 16th, 9:00 AM CT
Last Matchup: W, 15-12 on 2/1/2025 | RECAP | BOX SCORE
This will be the seventh-ever meeting between the two programs, as McKendree won earlier this season 15-12 as part of the VMI Invite, making it two straight victories in the series. The series is now tied at three a-piece.
The Keydets have compiled a 3-1 record so far into the season as they have yet to compete in MAAC play. Their only loss was to the Bearcats in the VMI Invite, where they came victorious against the University of Toronto, Gannon University, and Austin College.
California Institute of Technology | Sunday, February 16th, 2:00 PM CT
Last Matchup: W, 18-10 on 3/1/2024 | RECAP | BOX SCORE
This will be the fifth-ever meeting between the two programs, as McKendree won all four previous matchups dating back to 2018. Recently, they won 18-10 against Caltech as part of the Convergence Tournament in California and have posted a 15.3 scoring margin in those four games.
The Beavers are 0-1 so far into the season, as they have yet to compete in SCIAC play. They lost to Carthage on February 1st at home, 9-16.
TUNE IN-FO
vs Ottawa University Arizona
WATCH: Click HERE (FREE – MIAC Sports Network)
LIVE STATS: Live stats will not be provided for the event, albeit a box score will be provided for each game later in the day at mckbearcats.com.
HISTORY: Click HERE
at DIII No.7 Macalester College
WATCH: Click HERE (FREE – MIAC Sports Network)
LIVE STATS: Live stats will not be provided for the event, albeit a box score will be provided for each game later in the day at mckbearcats.com
HISTORY: Click HERE
vs Virginia Military Institute
WATCH: Click HERE (FREE – MIAC Sports Network)
LIVE STATS: Live stats will not be provided for the event, albeit a box score will be provided for each game later in the day at mckbearcats.com
HISTORY: Click HERE
vs California Institute of Technology
WATCH: Click HERE (FREE – MIAC Sports Network)
LIVE STATS: Live stats will not be provided for the event, albeit a box score will be provided for each game later in the day at mckbearcats.com
HISTORY: Click HERE
TEAM GUIDES
TEAM ROSTERS: [McKendree] [Ottawa] [Macalester] [VMI] [Caltech]
TEAM SCHEDULES: [McKendree] [Ottawa] [Macalester] [VMI] [Caltech]
TEAM STATISTICS: [McKendree] [Ottawa] [Macalester] [VMI] [Caltech]
PARTICIPANTS
McKendree University
Ottawa University Arizona
Macalester College
Virginia Military Institute
California Institute of Technology
Augustana College (Ill.)
Carthage College
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