POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Going into the second weekend of conference play with a 2-0 record, the VMI water polo team lost its first league match of the year in a loss to host No. 24 Marist, 15-8, Saturday morning in Poughkeepsie, New York, but rebounded with a 13-10 win over Villanova later in the day.
Against Marist, the Keydets (13-4, 2-1) scored the first goal of the match, but the Red Foxes went on an 8-0 run that lasted the majority of the first half to go up 8-1 with 2:36 before the half. VMI's Sophia DelBondio would end the drought moments later, but the damage had been done as the nationally ranked Marist squad went into the break with an 8-2 advantage.
Bailey Huddleston and Cecilya Lundy both scored twice for the Keydets in the third quarter in a comeback effort to pull VMI within three, but Marist again went on a scoring burst to register four unanswered goals to finish the third quarter ahead 13-6.
Both teams scored twice in the fourth quarter as Marist went on to claim the 15-8 victory.
Huddleston led the Keydets with three goals in the match with Lundy contributing her two from the third period. Shelby Barkley, DelBondio and Sarah Dolitsky tallied the other scores.
The Red Foxes were led by Grace Doerfler and Justine Castro, who both scored three goals during the match. Amanda Amorosa and N. McGlothlin each had two.
Against Villanova in the afternoon, VMI was led by two goals apiece from Barkley, Lundy, Emma Noble, Huddleston, Natalie Rivas and Sarah Dolitsky. Haley Scott added the other goal.
Freshman goalie Isabel French registered eight saves to help preserve the win.
The Keydets head up the road to Loudonville, New York for a solo Sunday matchup with conference foe Siena. The match is scheduled for a 10:30 a.m. start.
