NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Head coach Anna Phelps could not have asked for a better start to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference portion of the 2014 schedule for the Virginia Military Institute women's water polo team. The Keydets opened league play on Saturday with a pair of wins at Iona College's Haynes Athletic Center.
The Keydets (10-11, 2-0 MAAC) knocked off St. Francis Brooklyn 13-10 in their conference opener before upending one of the league's top teams in Siena, 16-8. The back-to-back wins mark the first time in program history the Keydets have won consecutive MAAC games.
Against St. Francis Brooklyn, the Keydets were paced by two hat tricks from senior Molly Andoe and freshman Bailey Huddleston. The pair finished with two goals each in the Keydets' first-ever MAAC opening win, while a trio of teammates, Caitlyn Jackson, Mackenzie Perkins and Sierra Payne, posted a pair of goals each. Junior Celine Lazzaro netted one marker. In goal, sophomore Emily Cait Farsakian registered 15 saves in her first-ever league win.
The Keydets capped the first day of MAAC play with their first-ever win over Siena. The pair of wins are not only the first time VMI has won consecutive games in conference, but mark the first time in the team's three year history it has won multiple conference games.
VMI's offense, which averaged a league-best 11.79 goals per game entering the weekend, put up 16 goals against the Saints, led by five from Lazzaro. Justina Dunne potted a trio of goals while Huddleston and Perkins finished with two goals apiece. Sierra Payne also ended her first weekend of MAAC games with two goals against Siena while Andoe and Jackson scored once each. Farsakian ended the day with 10 stops against Siena, holding the Saints to six goals, the fewest VMI has ever allowed in a conference game.
The Keydets continue MAAC play at Marist College on Sunday as they take on the Red Foxes at 9 a.m. VMI rounds out the first weekend of league games with Iona at 2:30 p.m. Both games will be played at Marist's McCann Natatorium.
