LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Facing two ranked squads on the first day of its second weekend trip to New York, the VMI water polo team fell to No. 20 Wagner, 16-8, and to No. 23 Marist by an 18-8 score Saturday at Siena College's Siena Swim Center in Loudonville, New York.

VMI's Rebecca Serrano scored in the opening minute against Wagner for a quick Keydet lead, but the advantage was short-lived as the Seahawks managed to score five goals in the opening frame. Haley Scott added another goal for VMI as the Keydets trailed by a 5-2 score going into the second period.

Despite VMI goals from Shelby Barkley and freshman Sarah Dolitsky in the second quarter, Wagner was able to tally five more goals to go into intermission with what proved to be an insurmountable 10-4 lead.

Barkley would go on to add a goal in both the third and fourth quarters with junior Bailey Huddleston scoring two in the fourth for VMI's final tally of eight goals. The Seahawks remained consistent with another five goals in the third quarter before finishing the match quietly with a lone score in the final frame.

No. 23 Marist 18, VMI 8

Despite nearly matching the Red Foxes score for score in the second half, the Keydets were unable to overcome a strong Marist attack in the opening half as the Foxes earned an 11-2 advantage at the half.

Huddleston scored in the first period after a 6-0 Marist lead and Serrano scored late in the second quarter to trim the Red Fox lead to 10-2 moments before intermission.

Sophomores Barkley and Natalie Rivas registered goals in the third quarter while Serrano added two more as VMI matched Marist with four goals apiece in the frame. Serrano finished the game with four goals as she added one more in the fourth quarter with Huddleston adding another for VMI's final score.

The Keydets return to the pool Sunday as they travel to Poughkeepsie, New York, to face Siena and Villanova hosted by Marist. The Siena matchup is slated for a 9 a.m. start before the Villanova game at 2:30 p.m. at Marist's McCann Natatorium.