Courtesy: VMI Athletics
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The VMI women’s water polo team finished up the 2025 season with two conference losses to Villanova and La Salle Sunday at the final MAAC Weekend hosted by Wagner College in Staten Island, New York.
Despite the two losses, the Keydets complete the 2025 campaign with 323 goals on the year, the fourth highest total for a single season in program history.
Villanova 22, VMI 13
In the first match of the day, the Wildcats jumped out to an 8-2 lead over the Keydets after the first period. Nova added another five goals in the second period while holding VMI to three to go into halftime with a 13-5 advantage.
The Wildcats continued to add to their total in the third quarter with seven goals before VMI responded strongly in the fourth quarter with six goals to finish strong.
Sadie Smith led VMI with three goals during the match while five others scored a pair of goals, including Sarah Fitzsimmons, Sydney Smith, Courtney Novotny, Meagan Riding and Makynna Smith.
Villanova was paced by Anna Painter and Riley Hull contributing five goals apiece while Tiffany Maguire and Ella Mattocks both earned a hat trick.
La Salle 12, VMI 10
The Keydets hung tough with La Salle for their second match of the day after the Explorers knocked off Wagner earlier in the day.
VMI trailed just 3-2 after the opening period and then 7-4 at the half. The Keydets allowed just two goals in the third period while senior Courtney Novotny rallied the Keydets with three goals to cut the deficit to two at 9-7 with one period remaining.
The Keydets rallied with three goals in the final period, but the Explorers managed to match each of VMI’s scores with three of their own to ultimately earn the win over VMI by a 12-10 count.
Novotny led VMI with four goals in her final match as a Keydet while Sadie Smith contributed three goals. Sydney Smith put in two goals for the Keydets.
The Explorers were led by three goals by both Francesca Co’ and Sarah Talli.
