WHITTIER, Calif. - Looking to finish its Spring Furlough trip to California strong, the VMI water polo team dropped the final two games by successive 10-8 scores against Redlands and Whittier to conclude the tour Saturday in Whittier, California.
In the nightcap game versus Whittier, the Keydets rallied in the third quarter with four unanswered goals to take a 7-6 lead with one period to go but were unable to sustain the momentum as Whittier earned four goals in the fourth to VMI's one for the come-from-behind win.
Whittier led 4-2 after the opening quarter and extended the lead to 6-3 by the half. Sophomores Shelby Barkley and Natalie Rivas accounted for VMI's goals in the first half while putting in two of the four third quarter goals. Sophia DelBondio and Sarah Dolitsky also tallied points for the Keydets in the third stanza.
VMI goalie Emily Farsakian earned three saves in the first half while Catie Berry logged five saves in the second half.
Redlands 10, VMI 8
Ahead by five goals at the end of the first quarter, the Keydets allowed Redlands back into the match as the Bulldogs earned the come-from-behind win.
Redlands scored five goals in the second frame and trailed by one at intermission, then went on to hold the Keydets scoreless in the third quarter as Bulldog keeper Allison Totzke earned three saves to preserve the UR lead.
VMI returns to action next weekend, April 2-3, to begin MAAC play on the road with Saturday games against Villanova (10:30 a.m.) and Siena (5:30 p.m.) and Sunday matches versus St. Francis (10:30 a.m.) and Iona (2:30 p.m.)
