VILLANOVA, Pa. (January 25, 2025) – Mount St. Mary's women's water polo started off their 2025 season with back-to-back wins at the Wildcat Invite hosted by Villanova University on Saturday night. The Mountaineers recorded victories against Gannon and Mercyhurst, posting scores of 16-7 and 15-7 against the Golden Knights and the Lakers respectively.
 
Mount St. Mary's 16, Gannon 7
 
Team                          1    2    3    4    F 
Mount St. Mary's              5    3    5    3    16
Gannon                        0    2    3    2    7
 
Goals: Valentine 3, Horan 3, Pascual 3, Radaelli 3, Kegel 1, Currie 1, Marquiss 1, Diaz 1
 
Saves: Fernie 7, Enquist 7
 
In their opening match against Gannon, the Mountaineers jumped out to a early five goal lead while holding the Golden Knights scoreless through the first quarter. A closely fought 3-2 second quarter was played out and the Mount went into the halftime intermission up 8-2. The Mount scored another five goals in the third quarter followed by three more in the final period to notch the first game of the season as a 16-7 victory for the Mountaineers.
 
Rebecca Valentine, Leilani Horan, Maria Boix Pascual, and Anita Radaelli all scored hat tricks against Gannon. Radaelli also notched two assists, completed three steals, and drew three exclusions. Riley Thompson provided three assists and drew three exclusions. In the cage, head coach Justin Vink split keeper time between Olivia Fernie and Becca Enquist. Both Fernie and Enquist recorded seven total saves each for a team total of 14 saves in net.
 
Mount St. Mary's 15, Mercyhurst 7
 
Team                          1    2    3    4    F 
Mount St. Mary's              3    4    5    3    15
Mercyhurst                    2    0    1    4    7
 
Goals: Radaelli 4, Vieira 3, Horan 2, Thompson 2, Kegel 1, Valentine 1, Pascual 1, Sayre 1
 
Saves: Enquist 7, Fernie 6
 
The Mountaineers and the Lakers played out to a 3-2 first quarter in their second match of the Invitational. But a 4-0 run by the Mount in the second half put the team up comfortably heading into halftime up 7-2. A further five goals came in the third quarter to the Lakers one. Up big heading into the fourth quarter, the Mountaineers allowed four goals during the period while only scoring three. But the damage was done well before then as the Mount cruised to a 15-7 win in their second game of the year.
 
Radaelli once again showed off her offensive prowess, scoring on four occasions while providing an assist and completing a steal. Beatrice Vieira scored a hat trick while completing one steal. Fernie and Enquist spilt time again in the cage, with Enquist recording seven saves and Fernie recording six.
 
UPCOMING
 
The Mountaineers return to the Wildcat Invitational tomorrow with a game against Villanova at 10:15 a.m. and a game against Iona at 3:30 p.m.