NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- In a season of many firsts for the Virginia Military Institute women's water polo team, the Keydets played in the program's first overtime game Sunday, falling to Siena College 15-11 at Iona College's Hynes Pool. Later in the day, VMI dropped a 12-7 decision to Villanova University.
Water polo overtime is comprised of two three minute halves, both of which will be played regardless of a goal scored during either period. Only after the six minutes have been played does the next overtime period become sudden victory.
Against the Saints, VMI got three goals from sophomore Celine Lazzaro, including two in the first quarter. Freshman Caitlyn Jackson turned in the best performance of her young career, notching six goals, tying her six-goal effort against Notre Dame College in the season opener for a career high. Mackenzie Perkins accounted for another two VMI goals Sunday morning.
In goal for VMI, rookie Molly Watkins made 15 saves during the longest game of her career, playing in all 38 minutes for the Keydets.
During the second game of the day, VMI got its goals from four sources, led by Lazzaro's four, all of which came in the second half. The sophomore captain extended her record-setting scoring streak to 14 consecutive games with a goal. She also logged her 16th career hat trick. Fellow sophomore Justina Dunne potted three goals while Jackson netted a pair. Joyce Zabala posted one goal.
It was another solid outing for Watkins, who made another 14 saves. So far in 2013, Watkins has 13 games this season with double-digit saves.
The game with Siena was tight throughout, with neither team gaining more than a three goal advantage. VMI's first three goals were scored by Lazzaro and Jackson, striking twice and once, respectively. Jackson added another two goals in the first quarter to put the Keydets up 5-2.
The Saints, who swept the season series against VMI, scored the only goal of the second quarter, giving VMI a 5-3 advantage at halftime.
Midway through the second quarter, Siena pulled within one goal of VMI, 5-4, but a marker from Perkins helped the Keydets regain a two goal advantage. With 3:30 to go in the third, Siena again made it a one-goal affair but this time it was Jackson who extended the game to two goals. The teams traded tallies through the rest of the third, giving VMI a narrow 8-7 lead at the end of the third.
Perkins gave the Keydets another two goal lead to start the fourth quarter, followed by VMI's first back-to-back goals since the opening period, putting the Keydets up 10-7.
But VMI found itself in foul trouble late in the game as three players, Lazzaro, Perkins and Heather Magill each picked up their third exclusions, removing them from the field for the remainder of the game. The Saints took advantage, reeling off three straight goals in the final two minutes to force extra water polo.
In the first three minute period of overtime, Siena took its first lead of the game, but the advantage was short lived as Jackson tied the game at 11-1. But Siena rallied and scored another four goals during the next four minutes of overtime to earn the 15-11 win.
VMI is back in action this coming weekend as the Keydets head to the Five Boroughs for their final weekend of MAAC play. On Saturday, St. Francis Brooklyn will host things as the Keydets face Marist College at 11:30 a.m. and the host school at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, MAACtion moves to Staten Island as Wagner College hosts VMI at noon and the Keydets against Iona College at 3 p.m.
