PHILADELPHIA - Off to its best start in program history at 11-3 going into the weekend, the VMI water polo team began MAAC play with a 2-0 record with wins over La Salle and Siena Saturday in Philadelphia.

The Keydets (13-3, 2-0) earned a 22-5 win over La Salle in their noon matchup before claiming a 14-8 win over Siena in a 4 p.m. match.

Junior Shelby Barkley scored a season-high six goals to lead the Keydets while Madison Curran contributed a seaon-high four goals. Natalie Rivas put in three scores for VMI followed by Emma Perez and Sarah Dolitsky both registering two goals. Other scorers for the Keydets included Cecilya Lundy, Emma Noble, Bailey Huddleston, Haley Scott and Rebecca Serrano.

VMI goalie Isabel French played the first half and earned the win on five saves and two goals allowed. Junior Catie Berry played the second half and logged six saves to go with three goals allowed.

Against Siena in the late afternoon match, a trio of Keydets paced the team as Barkley, Lundy and Scott all scored three goals or VMI throughout the match. Huddleston tallied two with Rivas, Curran and Perez each claiming one goal. 

French took the win with nine saves in 30 minutes of action while allowing eight goals. Berry replaced her for the final two minutes and registered a save to not allow any Siena goals.

The Keydets return to action next weekend to continue MAAC play when they head to Poughkeepsie, New York to face host Marist in the first game Saturday followed by a match with Villanova. On Sunday, VMI will head to host Siena for a match in Loudonville, New York.