LEXINGTON, Va. - Hosting for the only time this season, the VMI water polo team defeated Gannon, 19-11, in the morning before falling to George Washington in overtime by a 14-12 score in the nightcap Saturday at Clark King Pool in Lexington, Virginia.
Designated as Senior Day, seniors Shelby Barkley, Catie Berry, Sophia DelBondio, Natalie Rivas, Haley Scott and Rebecca Serrano were honored in a pre-game ceremony to highlight their accomplishments from the past four years.
Barkley led VMI (10-5, 2-2) with five goals against the Golden Knights while Scott scored four throughout the match. Emma Noble, Rivas, Serrano and junior Sarah Dolitsky each added two while DelBondio and sophomore Emma Perez each tallied one goal.
Sophomore goalie Isabel French and Berry split 16 minutes apiece in the cage as the two combined for seven saves to help preserve the VMI win.
(RV) George Washington 14, VMI 12 (OT)
Neck to neck with the Colonials (9-6, 0-0) the entire match to force overtime tied at 10 apiece, the Keydets were overpowered in the first overtime as George Washington scored four unanswered goals to pull away for the win. The Keydets battled back furiously in the second overtime in an attempt to overcome the deficit but fell short as they scored two unanswered goals before time expired.
Trailing 5-4 at the half, the Keydets outscored GWU in the second half, 6-5, to knot the game and force overtime against the Colonials, who are receiving votes for the CWPA Top 25 poll.
Barkley finished the game with three goals to lead VMI while Noble, Scott, Rivas, and Dolitsky each scored a pair. Perez also notched a goal in the first period.
The Colonials finished the match with 41 shot attempts to VMI's 38, but the Keydets held GWU to 1-6 on powerplay opportunities while converting five of 10 for themselves. Scarlett Hallahan finished the game with four goals to lead the Colonials to the win.
The Keydets resume conference play next weekend when they travel to New York to face No. 23 Marist (10:30 a.m.) and Villanova (6 p.m.) on Saturday before concluding Sunday with a match against Siena at 1:30 p.m. The matches are hosted by Iona College in New Rochelle, New York.
