CLAREMONT, Calif. – The VMI Water Polo Team opened up action in the 2024 Claremont Convergence on Friday, falling in its first game to Cal State East Bay but capping the day off with a dominant 20-8 victory over UC Merced.
VMI improves its overall record to 5-7 on the season, with an even 2-2 split in the Claremont Convergence. The five wins are the most since the 2021 season (6-12).
Key Stats
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Courtney Novotny nets seven goals on the afternoon
- Seven of eight position players score at least once
- Sydney and
Sadie Smith each have five goals,
Caragh Osborne has three
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Ysabel Casillas totals 15 saves in two games
Game 1 – L, 8-18 vs. Cal State Fullerton
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Sadie Smith and
Sarah Fitzsimmons each record four goals, Novotny nets three and dishes out three assists
- Cal State would score the first five until Novotny got the Keydets on the board at the end of the first
- The Titans extended their lead to seven until
Caragh Osborne scored a powerplay goal (2-8)
- Novotny and
Sadie Smith scored before the break as Cal State went into half ahead 10-4
- The Keydets tried to fight back but the Titans maintained the distance in the third (15-6), taking the contest 18-8
Game 2 – W, 17-6 vs. Redlands
- Novotny would score less than a minute into the game, followed by a pair of goals from
Sadie Smith
- After Redlands scored, VMI responded with eight unanswered, taking a commanding 11-2 lead into the break
- In the final two frames VMI outscores Redlands 4-3, 2-1 to grab the win
What's Next
The Keydets will have a weekend off but return home on March 15 to open up the VMI-MAAC Showcase against Mount St. Mary's.
