KENOSHA, Wis. - The women's water polo team is taking the trip to Carthage College this weekend and will face the Firebirds on Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00 PM CT at the Koenitzer Aquatic Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The contest will be streamed live for free on the Carthage Athletics YouTube channel at youtube.com/watch?v=ztVMzxSnSS0. Live stats will not be provided for the match, albeit a box score will be provided later in the day at mckbearcats.com.
BEARCATS CURRENTLY
McKendree is coming off their best start in the program's history since 2017 at 11-3 – their best since 10-4 in 2022. They recently went 4-0 at the annual Macalester Invitational last weekend. The Bearcats won against Ottawa University Arizona, DIII No.7 Macalester College, Virginia Military Institute, and California Insititute of Technology.
Against OUAZ, it was all McKendree as they led by a good margin of 6-2 at halftime behind sophomore utility Hailey Munoz (Murrieta, Calif.) and junior attacker Joey Rebelo (Montreal, Québec) each dropping in two within the half. The Bearcats Utilized a monumental 8-0 run in the second half of play with Rebelo notching two more along with sophomore center Bella Morquecho (Chicago, Ill.) obtaining a hat-trick within to win convincingly, 17-5. The team's collective 17 goals, 17 assists, 34 shot attempts, and 34 points were all a season-high.
In the win against Macalester, the Bearcats took control in the early goings once again, starting with a 10-2 edge consisting of another hat-trick from Morquecho. The Scots tried to crawl back by striking in three straight goals in the final quarter of regulation, but McKendree would win by a good amount once again, 10-5.
Against VMI, it was the most-contested win thus far into the season, leading by just two goals at halftime, with Morquecho recording yet another hat-trick in the half along with two scores from Rebelo. Rebelo continued to take matters in her own hands throughout the majority of the second half by snagging three more goals as McKendree was up by only one at the end of the third quarter. With the Keydats trying to tie it up in the final moments, junior attacker Jazmine Sandoval (Westminster, Calif.) sealed the game away with a clutch goal to eke out an 11-9 win. The team's four field blocks were a season-high. Senior goalkeeper Sydney Kane (Kankakee, Ill.) tallied a season-high 18 saves in the victory.
In the win against Caltech, it was in the Bearcats who were in control despite the contingency of the Beavers keeping McKendree from getting too hot. Morquecho and Sandoval would provide much-needed service in the first half with each getting in three goals for the squad to lead 11-6 at halftime. The Bearcats would hold serve in the last 16 minutes of action and pull away with a pleasant 17-11 win. It was the second time McKendree has scored 17+ all season with the other one coming against the Spirit in game one of the Macalester Invitational.
Rebelo was one of the most dominant players in the group over the weekend. She averaged 3.8 goals (15 total), 1.8 assists (7 total), 0.5 drawn exclusions (2 total), 2.0 steals (8 total), and 0.8 field blocks (3 total) in the four games played this weekend on a 60.0% (15-for-25) shooting percentage. The junior leads the team in assists (22), points (57), steals (16), and field blocks (6) while being second in shots attempted (73). The Montreal, Québec native ranks at the top of the WWPA currently in total goals (2nd – 35), total assists (1st – 22), total points (1st – 57), total field blocks (1st – 6), total steals (1st – 16), goals per game (3rd – 2.5), assists per game (1st – 1.6), points per game (1st – 4.1), and steals per game (5th – 1.1). Rebelo is top nationally in total goals (10th – 35), total assists (8th – 22), total points (5th – 57), total field blocks (9th – 6), and points per game (9th – 4.1).
Kane was still putting up great numbers on the defensive end as she always has done all season as she was credited with three out of the four wins over the weekend. She averaged 11.5 saves (46 total), 0.3 drawn exclusions (1 total), and 0.3 steals (1 total) in the four games played this weekend in 112:00 out of 128:00 minutes played combined. The senior is top in the WWPA in total steals (3rd – 15), total saves (1st – 147), save percentage (1st – 57.9%), goals-against average (2nd – 8.39), saves per game (1st – 10.5), and steals per game (5th – 1.1)...The Kankakee, Illinois native is top nationally in total saves (1st – 147), save percentage (2nd – 57.9%), goals-against average (3rd – 8.39), and saves per game (1st – 10.5).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Carthage College | Saturday, February 22nd, 2:00 PM CT
Last Matchup: W, 13-7 on 2/8/2025 | RECAP | BOX SCORE
This will be the 11th-ever meeting between the two programs. McKendree won each of the last nine outings against Carthage to hold a commanding 9-1 edge in the series. Within the nine wins, the Bearcats have beaten the Firebirds by an average of 11.3 points.
The Firebirds are 2-11 on the season with a 0-1 mark in CWPA play. They too competed in the Macalester Invitational last weekend, going 1-3 with the lone win coming against Caltech. Carthage has lost six of their last seven games.
TUNE IN-FO
at Carthage College
WATCH: Click HERE (FREE – YouTube)
LIVE STATS: Live stats will not be provided for the match, albeit a box score will be provided later in the day at mckbearcats.com.
HISTORY: Click HERE
TEAM GUIDES
TEAM ROSTERS: [McKendree] [Carthage]
TEAM SCHEDULES: [McKendree] [Carthage]
TEAM STATISTICS: [McKendree] [Carthage]
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