RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A three-goal second half spurt helped the VMI Keydets down the Chapman Panthers, 9-8, and earn a split on Saturday, the final day of action at the Lancer Invite, hosted by California Baptist in Riverside, Calif. VMI dropped a 12-2 decision to the hosts in the nightcap.
The Keydets (4-8) had squandered an early 6-2 lead as Chapman went up, 7-6, with 34 seconds left in the third quarter. Shelby Barkley scored to tie the game with just two seconds left in the period, however, and Mackenzie Perkins and Natalie Rivas found the back of the net early in the fourth to give the Keydets the lead for good.
Chapman scored with five seconds to go to account for the final margin.
The opener saw Barkley and Cecilya Lundy score two goals apiece to pace VMI, while Chapman's Riley Ford scored five of her team's eight goals.
In the nightcap, Barkley's 11-game goal scoring streak to open her career ended as Perkins and Bailey Huddleston scored the lone Keydet goals in a match that saw CBU sprint out to an early 8-0 lead and never look back.
VMI water polo will return to action Sunday, as the Keydets wrap up their swing through California with a doubleheader in Pasadena. VMI will face Macalester at 1:30 p.m. ET before taking on Caltech at 6:30 p.m. ET.
