O'FALLON, Ill. – It was a memorable atmosphere inside the McKendree Metro Rec Plex, where the women's water polo team left the inaugural Lischwe Memorial Invitational with an unblemished three wins that included thrilling performances both individually and as a team from February 7th to 8th in O'Fallon, Illinois.
GAME ONE vs. UC Merced
BOX SCORE
Score: McKendree University 14, University of California, Merced 11
Record: Bearcats 1-4, 0-0 WWPA | Bobcats 0-1, 0-0 WWPA
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter of the Invitational was McKendree's best start thus far into the early season, as the team opened up on a 6-1 run behind a pair of goals each from attackers Shanelle Márquez (Madrid, Spain) and Joey Rebelo (Montreal, Québec, Canada). Freshman utility Charlie Monroe (The Woodlands, Texas) would too earn her second goal in the match with a made shot with 13 seconds left in the period.
The two teams battled back-and-forth in period number two before UC Merced clawed their way to within five, as the Bobcats began the second half of play by continuing their momentum with a 3-1 spurt to find themselves down 9-11. Márquez and junior utility Hailey Munoz (Murrieta, Calif.) would connect with the cage on consecutive possessions to go back up by four with still a quarter left in the game.
Defense was the focal point of the remaining eight minutes of action as the Bobcats tacked on the first score of such at the 5:13 mark, whereas Bearcat leading scorer Bella Morquecho (Chicago, Ill.) would eventually have her team respond a little over a minute later. UC Merced snuck one more inside before being held scoreless in the final 2:27 of play, with McKendree earning their first victory of the season with a 14-11 win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Márquez, Rebelo, and Morquecho each tabbed a hat-trick of three goals in the win, as Rebelo registered five assists and a trio of steals.
• Monroe notched a career-high two goals in the match, plus a drawn exclusion.
• With just one goal, senior attacker Dylan Murphy (Carlsbad, Calif.) rounded out her performance with four assists and a drawn exclusion.
• Freshman goalkeeper Daisy Wetherholt (Malibu, Calif.) collected nine saves in the outing in her first NCAA win.
• With Jazmine Sandoval's (Westminster, Calif.) goal in the game, it moved her to 100 career points.
GAME TWO vs. Carthage
BOX SCORE
Score: McKendree University 18, Carthage College 16
Record: Bearcats 2-4, 0-0 WWPA | Firebirds 0-2, 0-0 CWPA
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was an eventful first period of action, let alone a first half as both teams converted on five goals within the first eight minutes. Morquecho got herself going early with two of McKendree's first three made shots. Sandoval came in clutch as time was winding down by finding the back of the net to tie the game up evenly at five a piece.
The exact same output would present itself in the second quarter, as Carthage converted on the initial three goals to go up 8-5. A couple of interchanging scores kept the distance afloat until the Bearcats were able to close out the half with three straight of their own, including Morquecho and Márquez continuing their dominant performances with junior attacker Emma Cramer (Brentwood, Calif.) getting in on the mix with her first career goal to knot the game up at 10 heading into the half.
The two sides kept going at it until McKendree was able to get some separation with a 4-0 spurt that saw Morquecho hit her fourth already, as junior attacker Mikayla Brown (Concord, Calif.) got herself on the board with a quick two. After the Firebirds halted the run with a goal, Márquez and Murphy put the game away for good and fend of Carthage in their home waters, 18-16.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Márquez and Morquecho put up their second consecutive hat-tricks, with the latter reaching a team season-high five along a pair of steals and exclusions drawn.
• Brown also earned her first career hat-trick and also recorded a takeaway.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Elizabeth Zurawski (San Antonio, Texas) had four saves in the victory and a steal.
• McKendree outshot Carthage 34-31.
• The Bearcats assisted on 12 of their 18 goals (66.6%).
• Rebelo's performance moved her to second all-time within the program in career points.
• Murphy's performance in this match now puts her at fifth all-time within the program in career points.
• Morquecho is now fifth all-time at McKendree in total career goals.
GAME THREE vs. Augustana
BOX SCORE
Score: McKendree University 12, Augustana College 11
Record: Bearcats 3-4, 0-0 WWPA | Vikings 2-1, 0-0 CWPA
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats were able set the tone again against their in-state rivals, with Márquez once again being the impact on the offensive end with two quick goals to start the game up 4-1 on the Vikings. Heading into the second period of play, Augustana creeped their way back into things with a 4-2 period to pull within one at the extended break as Rebelo got her second goal of the game with Morquecho once again apearing on the scoresheet.
Márquez began the second half by firing one inside, but was soon responded to by a couple straight from the opposition hailing from Rock Island to tie match at seven. Brown, Rebelo, and Munoz each contributed on a 3-0 run to return the advantage back towards the Bearcats.
With the game still neck-and-neck, Márquez and Morquecho could not be contained by the Vikings, as in the final period of regulation, they each forced one into the cage to hold a two-point edge. Augustana answered with 2:36 left to pull within just one.
A plethora of turnovers made its way into the final moments, keeping the offensive ends passive and out of rhythm. After a drawn-up play by the Viking coaching staff, freshman goalkeeper Delaney Judkins (La Grange, Ill.) literally saved the day and prevented the shot from going in, as McKendree would subsequently swim out the clock and end the in-state thriller with a 12-11 win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Márquez once again finished with a hat-trick, this time with four goals in the contest, plus contributing an assist and a steal.
• Rebelo got her second hat-trick of the season and the invitational with three goals.
• Morquecho snagged her third straight game with at least two goals, as she collected a takeaway in the process.
• Judkins finished the day with five saves and two steals in her first NCAA win.
• The Bearcats assisted on 10 of the team's 12 goals (83.3%)
SENIOR NIGHT
Prior to the game against Augustana, the program recognized five senior athletes, as while their time at McKendree will soon be coming to an end, they will forever be engraved as part of the Bearcat family. Those honored from this year's team were attacker Jazmine Sandoval, attacker Dylan Murphy, attacker Joey Rebelo, center defender Allie Diller, and center Megan Morris.
RING CEREMONY
Prior to the game against Carthage, last year's 2025 women's water polo team was honored with their WWPA championship rings after making historic marks that included several conference and national individual awards and a program-best 21 wins on the season.
UP NEXT
McKendree will be back in action next weekend, where they will travel to Ann arbor, Michigan to take part in the Midwest Invite, co-hosted by the University of Michigan and Indiana University from Saturday, February 14th through Sunday, February 15th at the Donald B. Canham Natatorium.
There, the Bearcats will face No.16 University of California, Davis (9:15 AM CT) and the host No.15 Michigan (3:15 PM CT) on Saturday for day one. For day two on Sunday, they will take on Mount St. Mary's University (9:30 AM CT) and T-No.10 Indiana (2:00 PM CT).
The invite can be watched both live and on demand with a subscription purchase required on B1G+, 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
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