ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The women's water team faced some really tough competition in the first day of the Midwest Invite in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as they fell to both No.17 University of California, Davis and the host No.16 University of Michigan on Saturday, February 14th at the Donald B. Canham Natatorium.
GAME ONE vs. UC Davis
BOX SCORE
Score: McKendree University 3, University of California, Davis 29
Record: Bearcats 3-5, 0-0 WWPA | Aggies 6-7, 0-0 Big West
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game one of the Midwest Invite was a stumper in the books for the team, who fought the whole 32 minutes of action against a tough ranked opposition.
UC Davis wasted no time in setting the tone their way by opening with the game's first six goals in the initial five minutes of playing time. Juniors Shanelle Márquez (Madrid, Spain) and Bella Morquecho (Chicago, Ill.) connected on back-to-back scoring possessions for the Bearcats, with the former earning the first via a five-meter penalty attempt to dwindle the deficit to four.
After seven more straight from the Aggies to end half number one 13-2 in their favor, Morquecho opened up the second half with her second goal of the event.
Yet, it would be all Aggies the rest of the way, as UC Davis registered 16 unanswered goals to give McKendree the 3-29 setback.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Morquecho finished with two goals on a perfect two attempts (100%).
• Márquez tabbed in one for her 13th goal of the season, while also picking up the assist.
• Sophomore attacker Maisie Mattocks (Shutesbury, Mass.) was credited for one assist in the matchup.
• Freshman goalkeeper Daisy Wetherholt (Malibu, Calif.) started and was in the cage for the first three periods, collecting five saves.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Elizabeth Zurawksi (San Antonio, Texas) subbed in for the final quarter of action and picked up one save.
GAME TWO vs. Michigan
BOX SCORE
Score: McKendree University 6, University of Michigan 20
Record: Bearcats 3-6, 0-0 WWPA | Wolverines 5-6, 0-0 CWPA
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michigan came out of the gates with a 3-0 lead in the early goings, but Morquecho was there to give her Bearcats their first within game number two of the Midwest Invite. The Chicago native gave McKendree another goal in the second period after the Wolverines tacked on four more.
Down 2-8 at the half, Márquez boosted the offense in the third quarter by igniting her squad on a 3-2 run, with the Spain product contributing on two of such while junior utility Hailey Munoz (Murrieta, Calif.) came in and fired one in for herself.
With the game all but finished, senior attacker Jazmine Sandoval (Westminster, Calif.) tacked on one more for the Bearcats in the final two minutes of play, but it would not be enough to contain the Wolverines, leading to a 6-20 falter.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Morquecho and Márquez tabbed two goals each in the setback as the latter earned a steal in the process.
• Munoz and Sandoval each contributed their first goals of the event, with both shooting 50.0% on the net, with Munoz credited for a pair of assists and steals, while Sandoval got one of each in the same category.
• Freshman goalkeeper Delaney Judkins (La Grange, Ill.) guarded the cage all game and came away with eight saves and a takeaway.
• McKendree assisted on all (6-for-6) of their goals in the outing.
UP NEXT
McKendree will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, February 15th when they close out day two of the Midwest Invite by facing Mount St. Mary's University at 9:30 AM CT and No.10 Indiana University at 2:00 PM CT inside the Donald B. Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Both games can be watched live and on-demand for free on Overnght as live stats will be provided for fans to tune in via The FOSH. No tickets are necessary for entry.
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