BROOKLYN, N.Y. - In its first action following Spring Furlough, the VMI water polo team split the first day as the Keydets fell to Villanova, 14-12, before defeating Siena, 17-11, Saturday at the St. Francis College Aquatic Center in Brooklyn, New York.

After going toe-to-toe through the first three quarters, the Keydets and Wildcats entered the fourth period tied at nine apiece. VMI's Bailey Huddleston struck first to give the Keydets their first lead of the game, but Villanova then put two in the net to go back ahead, 11-10.

With just over five minutes left in regulation, VMI's Natalie Rivas tied it back up at 12 with a goal off a Huddleston assist. The Wildcats put the game out of reach over the next three minutes, however, by scoring three straight goals to go ahead, 14-11, with only 1:35 remaining. VMI's Rebecca Serrano added a score with 18 seconds on the clock for the final tally as Villanova escaped with the win.

Serrano finished the match with a season-high four goals to lead the Keydets while Rivas contributed three and Huddleston two. Rivas finished with 10 shot attempts with Huddleston and Shelby Barkley each taking six. Barkley created scoring opportunities off three steals during the game while Rivas contributed a team-high three assists.

VMI 17, Siena 11

Ahead just 7-5 at intermission, the Keydets utilized a barrage of goals in the third quarter to pull ahead, 14-7, heading into the final period of play.

The Keydets jumped to a quick 3-0 lead in the opening quarter off goals from Cecilya Lundy, Rivas and Barkley in the first four minutes. After a Siena goal, Huddleston put in another to give VMI a 4-1 going into the second.  Freshman Sarah Dolitsky quelled a 3-0 Siena run in the second quarter with a goal moments before Lundy added a pair to give VMI its 7-5 lead at the break.

"After the tough loss to Villanova this morning, I'm proud of the fight the team showed until the end," said VMI head coach Ryan Pryor. "We played a cohesive game against Siena. We were more aggressive on the counterattack and it paid major dividends for us."

VMI scored its seven goals in the third quarter by a host of Keydets as Lundy, Serrano, Rivas and Barkley combined to attack the Siena net to put the game at a comfortable distance with only the fourth quarter remaining.

The Keydets countered Siena's four goals in the final stanza with three of their own to secure the win. 

VMI returns to action Sunday in Brooklyn with MAAC games versus host St. Francis at 10:30 a.m. and Iona at 2:30 p.m.