SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The VMI Water Polo Team wrapped up play at the Macalester Invite on Sunday morning, fighting tooth and nail against McKendree, but ultimately dropping the contest by one goal.

Key Stats
- Sydney Smith recorded a hat trick, while Sarah Fitzsimmons, Courtney Novotny, Caragh Osborne and Sadie Smith all had two goals apiece
- Julia Ward registered three shots and a goal in the effort
- Ysabel Casillas would get the not in net, collecting four saves on the day

How it Happened
- Sarah Fitzsimmons opened the game with a goal and after a McKendree timeout, Osborne would set up Novotny to give VMI a two-goal advantage (4-2)
- The Bearcats answered just before the end of the first, and would equalize early in the second and take a one goal lead
- From here, the teams alternated goals with VMI knotting the score up at 7-7 at the break
- Sydney and Sadie Smith would make the score 9-8 VMI, but McKendree answered to take an 11-10 lead into the final frame
- With 3:31 to play, Novotny capitalized on an exclusion and cut the deficit to one, but time would expire as VMI fell 13-12.

What's Next
VMI (3-5) has a weekend off from action, then travels to the west coast to compete in the Claremont Convergence from March 1-2.