TEMPE, Ariz. – The women's water polo team concluded its time in their season-opening event at The Malmsten Invitational, hosted by Arizona State University, as they fell to both T-No.7 Loyola Marymount University and RV California Baptist University on Sunday, January 25th at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe, Arizona. 

GAME ONE vs. Loyola Marymount 

BOX SCORE 

Score: McKendree University 10, Loyola Marymount University 24 

Record: Bearcats 0-3, 0-0 WWPA | Lions 4-1, 0-0 GCC 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Down by two in the opening minutes and looking to find some offensive firepower, sophomore attacker Kaitlyn Goins (East Grand Rapids, Mich.) gave her squad their first goal of the game off a power play opportunity. LMU was able to tack on six more in the first quarter of action, but in the final two minutes, junior center Bella Morquecho (Chicago, Ill.) would take it upon herself and score two of her own on back-to-back possessions to be down by just four points. 

A 3-0 spurt by McKendree would present itself to begin quarter number two, as a collective effort by Hailey Munoz, Jazmine Sandoval, and Joey Rebelo was able to cut into the Lions' lead and make it a 6-9 deficit. However, an 8-0 run by LMU would make things a bit more difficult for the Bearcats, as they would now find themselves down by 11. 

To stop the blazing opposing offense, junior attacker Shanelle Márquez (Madrid, Spain) converted with ease on a five-meter penalty shot, as Goins would register her second goal of the contest with less than 30 second to go in the third quarter of play. 

The Lions refused to let up in the last period of regulation, as they made do on six more shots. Morquecho would make a final push for herself by tacking on two more goals to give her a second hat-trick of the season, as McKendree would put up their best score yet to the year in a 10-24 falter to LMU. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Morquecho finished with a team-high four goals, to give her a second hat-trick on the year. 

• Goins tabbed a career-high two goals. 

• Márquez, Sandoval, Rebelo, and Munoz each contributed on one goal. 

GAME TWO vs. Cal Baptist 

BOX SCORE 

Score: McKendree University 4, California Baptist University 30 

Record: Bearcats 0-4, 0-0 WWPA | Lancers 3-2, 0-0 GCC 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

It was not the best way for the program to end their time in sunny and warm Arizona, as they could not get a rhythm going. 

CBU began the game with five straight scores before Munoz gave McKendree a 2-0 spurt off of a pair of power play possessions to cut their deficit to three. After a few more subsequent goals made by the Lancers, senior center defender Allie Diller (Grand Ledge, Mich.) found the back of the net for her first goal of the season. 

Then, the Lancers would go ballistic and score 17 unanswered points before Morquecho stopped the bleeding by netting one inside. But it would not be enough to contend with CBU, as the opposition pulled away with a 30-4 victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Munoz led the team with a pair of goals, both of which came on power play possessions. 

• Diller and Morquecho each finished with one goal in the game. 

UP NEXT 

McKendree will have next weekend off as they will prepare to host the inaugural Lischwe Memorial Invitational in honor of the program's late head coach Colleen Lischwe, which will be held at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex in O'Fallon, Illinois from Saturday, February 7th (McKendree Sports Hall of Fame Day) through Sunday, February 8th. 

Other participants in the event will consist of the University of California, Merced (non-conference matchup), DIII RV Carthage College, and DIII No.5 Augustana College. 

All matchups in the Invitational can be watched for free, both live and on demand, on the WWPA Network, as live stats will be provided for fans to tune in via The FOSH. Be sure to check out the event's TOURNAMENT CENTRAL for all the details. 

Make sure to keep up with McKendree University Water Polo on Instagram, X (Twitter), and TikTok. #NCAAwaterpolo 

For more updates and information on Bearcat Athletics, please continue to visit McKBearcats.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram. 
#BearcatsUnleashed