ERIE, PA – For the first time since 2015, Siena Water Polo (5-3) was won four consecutive matches. The Saints completed their first non-conference tournament sweep since 2007 with a 15-10 win over Salem University and an 18-14 overtime victory over McKendree Sunday to close out action at the Mercyhurst Invitational.
Having already won both of their Saturday contests at the tournament, the Green and Gold began their first meeting with Salem since 2003 by holding a 7-6 lead at the half. Siena then used goals from sophomore Bianca Prinsloo, junior Sophia Torres and freshman Danni Croteau to score all three goals in the third quarter and never look back. Prinsloo totaled five points in the win, while Torres and senior Diana Fernandez each added hat tricks.
Siena returned to the pool at the Haggerty Family Events Center later in the afternoon for the first-ever matchup with the Bearcats. The Saints fought back from a 4-3 deficit at the end of the first quarter to take a 7-6 lead at the half. The game remained a one-goal difference until the Bearcats took a 12-10 lead through three quarters. Fernandez sent the game into overtime with a late fourth period goal that knotted the contest at 13.
Siena then out-scored McKendree 4-1 in extra time to secure its fourth straight victory. Sophomore Georgia Vargas recorded a six-goal outing, while Torres had another hat trick and four other Saints chipped in two goals each. The first win of the day allowed Fernandez to move into a tie for fourth place in program history in steals with her 141st swipe.
Siena will look to build on its best start through eight games since 2007 (5-3) when they return to competition next weekend. The Saints will take part in the Red Fox Invitational in Poughkeepsie, NY on February 22, with a pair of contests against MAAC opponents.
