Box Score Siena Water Polo traveled to Villanova, PA, Saturday afternoon for a non-conference test against #T-25 Villanova Wildcats. The Saints took their nationally-ranked foes to the very end but ultimately fell, 16-13. 
 
Catherine Williamson led Siena with four goals, while Lucia Fernandez Caballero and Rebecca Currie each notched hat-tricks. 
 
Siena jumped out to a 3-0 lead with goals by Williamson, Fernandez Caballero, and Currie. The Wildcats responded with their first of the period at the 5:32 mark, but Fernandez Caballero came back less than 30 seconds later. The Saints eventually ended the period with a 5-4 edge. 
 
The Saints extended its lead to 7-5 midway through the second before Villanova scored the final two goals of the half with 4:05 and 1:16 remaining as the teams entered the second half tied at 7-7. 
 
Currie opened the second half with a goal to put Siena back in front, but the Wildcats evened the score and eventually jumped ahead with 4:30 to play in the third. Williamson scored twice more for Siena in the third, but Villanova still entered the fourth with a one-goal lead at 11-10. 
 
Midway through the fourth, the Wildcats grew its advantage to 14-11 before Parker Thomas and Fernandez Caballero netted back-to-back goals to bring the Green and Gold within one and 2:32 to play. However, Siena surrendered two more to the Wildcats to close the game at 1:16 and 0:31 to play. 
 
Siena will have one week off before traveling to Cambridge, MA, for the Harvard Invitational from Mar. 1-2.