POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The VMI women's water polo team trailed by just one goal with three minutes to play, but Marist College defeated the Keydets 13-10 to win the game and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title in its home pool Sunday.

The Red Foxes led 10-6 midway through the third period, but there was no quit in the Keydets, playing in their first MAAC Championship game in program history. Genevieve Petrassi and McKenna Imset each scored for VMI before the end of the third to cut the lead to two.

The Red Foxes scored the first goal of the fourth, but VMI countered with tallies from Caragh Osbourne and Imset with 3:06 on the game clock to make it 11-10. Marist was awarded a penalty shot at 2:54 and converted, and added an insurance goal with just over a minute to play.

Petrassi led VMI with a hat trick and Imset scored twice and drew two exclusions. Makenna Moore and Sydney Shettleroe each had a goal and two assists, while Rachel Ahumada, Kiara Anguiano and Osborne all scored once. Maddie Berry had two assists and Katie Loyd made six stops in net.

Marist converted on seven of 13 power play attempts and both penalty shots. VMI scored on four of seven power plays and was not awarded a penalty shot.

Myriam Lizotte scored four times for Marist (8-2) with one assist. Marina Hyham made nine saves.

After the game, the All-Championship Team and Most Valuable Player were announced. Viktoria Orlova of Marist was named the championship's Most Valuable Player, Orlova finished the tournament with five goals in her two games. Joining Orlova on the All-Championship Team was Marist's Shinae Carrington, Lizotte, and Justine Castro, from VMI was Imset and Petrassi, and La Salle's Madison Martinez.

VMI ends the 2021 season 6-12 overall, but fell seven times by four goals or less.