POMONA, Calif. — The Villanova water polo team swept its first day at the Convergence Tournament in Pomona, California Friday.
The 'Cats (12-6) defeated Div. III side Chapman (4-6) 26-5 to start the afternoon before capping the night with a 12-6 victory over Concordia Irvine (9-8).
Villanova has now won five consecutive games, its longest winning streak since Feb. 15-March 1, 2025, which was also a five-game streak.
Against the Panthers, VU tied the program record for goals in a single game and broke the records for single-game assists with 25 and points with 51.
The goal record was set Feb. 24, 2019 versus Penn State Behrend. The assist (22) and point (44) records were set in a Feb. 30, 2019 game with the Nittany Lion.
Ella Mattocks led the way for the 'Cats, scoring five goals.
Layla Canales followed with four goals and both
Emmie Mallory and
Annika Wise had three.
Tippy Maguire,
Tessa Pettit and
Riley Hull scored twice.
Sara Withers,
Anna Painter,
Charlotte Summe,
Catharine McCann and
Abby Moffatt rounded out the scoring with one goal each.
Summe, McCann and Hull had three assists each in the record-breaking performance. Canales,
Coco Jones, Withers, Mallory and Moffatt each had two assists. Maguire, Wise, Pettit and
Rosie Woodman all had one assist.
Villanova had 18 steals in the game and drew eight exclusions.
The 'Cats took a commanding lead early, heading into halftime up 13-3. Matching their first half performance, VU scored 13 more in the second half and held Chapman to just two goals.
Reia Kimi and
Rachel Stephens split the game in goal. Stephens saved three in six attempts and saved a five-meter shot in the first half. Stephens saved five in seven attempts and picked up a steal.
In a much tighter contest, Villanova took on CUI in the night cap. Keeping the double-digit scoring streak going, VU scored 12 in the contest.
Mattocks led the 'Cats with four goals, followed by Canales with three, Painter with two and Jones, Withers and Pettit with one.
Withers and Hull had three assists, Foley had two and Maguire had one.
Defensively, Villanova had nine steals, led by Withers with three.
Mattocks picked up two field blocks and was followed by Mallory, Hull and Foley with one each.
VU took an early 3-1 lead in the first quarter before taking 6-3 lead into halftime.
The Golden Eagles waged a comeback in the second half, matching the 'Cats at three goals each in the third quarter. However, Villanova closed the door with three goals to CUI's one in the fourth quarter.
Gracin Kerry played the entire game in net saving 12 in 18 attempts.Two of Kerry's saves came on 6v5 situations.
Up Next
The 'Cats close their weekend at the Convergence Tournament Saturday, taking on Fresno Pacific and No. 3 USC.
