ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's water polo team was defeated in their home opener on Saturday, falling to the visiting McKendree Bearcats by a score of 15-8.

The Bearcats were responsible for the game's first three goals on their way to a 5-2 first quarter. Lauren Dickinson snagged both goals in the opening frame for the Vikings to cut two separate deficits to two before the visitors added one more before the end of the period. McKendree closed out the second quarter with another five-goal effort, outscoring Augustana by two to double up the Vikings 10-5 heading into halftime. Ocean Akau, Charlotte Newport, and Casey Barragan all notched scores in the period.

The third quarter brought nearly six minutes of scoreless play before the Bearcats tallied back-to-back scores to push their advantage to seven. Annie Opal Dickson sent one into the back of the net before the end of the third to bring the score to 12-6 in favor of McKendree. The Bearcats posed a 3-1 margin in the final frame to close things out with a 15-7 win. Victoria Guest accounted for the final goal of the day for the Vikings with 4:40 left in the game.

Augustana out-shot McKendree 29-23 in the game, led by six apiece from Dickinson and Newport. Dickinson also added a steal and an assist to go with her team-high two goals.

The Vikings drop to 6-4 overall with the loss. The team will be remain at home for their next action beginning Friday, March 17 when they host the Wittenberg Tigers inside Anne Greve Lund Natatorium. Start time is scheduled for 6 p.m.