ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College water polo team started the 2023 season tonight at Riley Pool against Virginia Military Institute, losing 14-7 in the first game of the Macalester Invitational. The match was the first of 14 matches this weekend at Riley Pool.

Sophomore Sian Lewandowski (North Haven, Conn./Williston Northampton) scored the first goal of the season for Macalester, as the Scots trailed 3-1 after one quarter. Senior Eleanor Michaud (Long Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) found the net to start the second quarter, but VMI tallied four straight goals to lead, 7-2. Michaud closed out the scoring in the second quarter to make the halftime score, 7-3 Keydets. VMI extended its lead to 10-3 before sophomore Kendall Coney (League City, Texas/Clear Creek) and first year Jess Palmer-Sammons (Half Moon Bay, Calif./Half Moon Bay) scored for Macalester near the end of the third quarter. Michaud tallied the first goal of the fourth quarter, and Palmer-Sammons closed out the Scots' scoring with a goal later in the quarter, as VMI closed out the win with three goals in the final period.

Macalester will play McKendree University at 2:00 p.m. and Caltech at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 on the second day of the Macalester Invitational.

MAC – 1 2 2 2 - 7
VMI – 3 4 4 3 - 14
Macalester goals: Michaud 3, Palmer-Sammons 2, Lewandowski, Coney