LEWISBURG, Pa. – After opening the Bison Invitational with a split Saturday, the VMI water polo team again accomplished the feat Sunday as the Keydets defeated George Washington in the morning before falling to host No. 25 Bucknell in the afternoon.
VMI defeated George Washington by an 11-7 score in the 11 a.m. game as sophomore Shelby Barkley scored a season-high four goals. The Riverside, California native helped the Keydets to a 5-2 lead at the end of the first quarter by scoring three of her goals. She would add her fourth in the second period as VMI built a 7-4 advantage at the half.
After scoring a combined three goals Saturday, sophomore Natalie Rivas tallied three goals against the Colonials with one in the first quarter and a pair in the third. Junior Bailey Huddleston scored two goals in the win while Sophia DelBondio and Madison Curran each scored one.
No. 25 Bucknell 15, VMI 8
Facing their second ranked opponent in as many days, the Keydets fell to host No. 25 Bucknell in the 2 p.m. session as the Bison built a 6-1 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back.
Rivas struck first for VMI in the first period as she scored her first of three goals during the game. She would add another goal in the second and fourth quarters.
Barkley also scored three goals for the Keydets as she found the net in each of the second, third and fourth quarters. Rebecca Serrano scored a pair of goals during the match as she put one in during the second and third quarters.
The Keydets quickly return to action Tuesday when they host their only home event of the year by taking on George Washington at 5 p.m. at Clark King Pool. The event will mark Senior Night for Ally Van Valen and Emily Farsakian as well as undergraduate assistant coach Caitlyn Jackson.
