LEXINGTON, Va. – Water Polo fell short by a score of 10-9 in their opening game of MAAC play against Mount St. Mary's at the VMI-MAAC Showcase.

Despite Riley Hull tying a career high with five goals, the Mountaineers were able to fend off and then respond to each of Villanova's scores.

The defense told the story in the game, as the reigning Co-MAAC Defensive Player of the Week, Rachel Stephens, corralled a career high 12 saves.

In the first quarter, the two teams traded goals, as it ended tied at two. Anna Kegel for the Mountaineers scored her first of four, while Layla Canales and Hull notched the goals for the Wildcats.

The freshman, Hull, found the back of the net twice in the second stanza, giving her a hat trick. However, that was all the scoring the Wildcats would do, while the Mount added four in that quarter to enter the break, leading 6-4.

In the first 1:35 of the second half, Ella Mattocks scored twice, giving the Co-MAAC OPOTW her third consecutive multi-goal game, tying the game up at six.

For the rest of the contest, it was a defensive battle, with the rare goal, which seemed to be answered right back by the other squad.

Adrienne Grimes scored with 3:23 remaining in the stanza to tie the game back up on an assist from Abby Moffatt. The Mountaineers scored just 23 seconds later, ultimately extending their lead to two by the end of the frame.

Hull scored her fourth and fifth goals to start the fourth, knotting the two teams at nine apiece. With 1:27 to go, Anita Radaelli from MSM was able to send one through for the game-deciding score.

With two assists in the contest, junior utility Sara Withers eclipsed the 100 career assist mark, becoming the seventh player in program history to do so. 
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will play two more games in Virginia this weekend. They face off against the Siena Saints tomorrow at 8:00 A.M. and the home team, VMI, at 2:00 P.M.
 
WATCH
The final two games of the weekend will be streamed on ESPN+. Links can be found in the 2025 Women's Water Polo Schedule or on ESPN+ under the VMI-MAAC Showcase daily streams.

SOCIAL
For all the latest updates surrounding the program, follow Villanova Water Polo on Instagram @novawaterpolo and X (formerly Twitter) @nova_waterpolo.