Anne ten Bloementhal scored four goals and freshman Courtney O'Shaughnessy also tallied four goals in her collegiate debut as Salem University defeated Villanova University 15-9 in non-conference women's water polo Saturday at Villanova, Pa. The contest was the Tigers' 2020 season opener.
 
Salem made it a two-game sweep over Division I opponents as the Tigers opened play in the La Salle Invite with an 11-5 victory over St. Francis College (N.Y.). Margherita Garibbo scored two of her game-high three goals in the final 92 seconds of the first period to break a 1-1 tie and put the Tigers ahead to stay.
 
Tiger goalkeeper Philippa Piper recorded a combined 30 saves on 44 shots on goal for a .682 save percentage in the two contests.
 
In the opener against Villanova, Garibbo scored a pair of first-half goals as Salem (2-0) scored the first four goals of the game. Villanova ended Salem's shutout bid with 1:32 left in the second quarter before O'Shaughnessy's second goal with three seconds remaining gave the Tigers a 5-1 halftime lead.
 
The two teams erupted for a combined 12 goals in the third period, but the margin never fell below three goals. A goal by ten Bloementhal with 1:26 remaining gave Salem a 12-6 lead after three periods.
 
A penalty shot helped Villanova draw within 12-8 early in the fourth period, but the Wildcats would not get any closer. Goals by ten Bloementhal and Shaughnessy extended the lead back to six and Piper assisted on ten Bloementhal's final goal with 1:03 left to play closed out the scoring.
 
Chloe Woodbine led all players with four assists, while Piper and ten Bloementhal added three assists apiece. Piper recorded 16 saves in goal.
 
Salem spotted St. Francis the first goal before Maryanna Antoniou evened the score with 5:02 left in the first period. Garibbo scored a pair of goals in a span of 44 seconds to break the tie and give the Tigers the lead for good.
 
Garibbo scored again with 1:27 left in the second quarter and ten Bloementhal blocked a late shot attempt as Salem once again allowed only one first-half goal on its way to a 6-1 halftime lead. Antoniou scored the first goal of the second half before St. Francis ended the Tigers' seven-goal scoring run.
 
Beatrice Popescu scored with 58 seconds left in the third period and ten Bloementhal's fourth-period goal gave Salem its biggest lead at 11-3.
 
Erin Zappia had a game-high three assists, while Garibbo and Woodbine each had a pair of assists. Piper finished with 14 saves.
 
Salem finishes play in the La Salle Invite with two more games Sunday. The Tigers face George Washington University at 9 a.m., then take on tournament host La Salle University at 2:15 p.m.