Margherita Garibbo scored a game-high six goals, including a late insurance goal to thwart a comeback as national poll vote-getter Salem University defeated La Salle University 18-15 Saturday to open day one of the women's water polo Laker Invitational at Erie, Pa., hosted by Mercyhurst University. Goalkeeper Philippa Piper recorded six assists and made a save in the final minute to seal the win.
 
The Tigers' three-game winning streak came to an end Saturday evening as Virginia Military Institute rallied to defeat Salem 14-12. The Tigers were held scoreless in the fourth period.
 
Saturday's action marked Salem's first games since being included among Others Receiving Votes in the CWPA National Top 25. The Tigers are tied for 28th in this week's poll.
 
Salem (7-3) trailed La Salle 7-5 before Garibbo's penalty shot with 2:10 left in the second period triggered a Tiger rally. After Annefleur ten Bloemendal tied the game with 1:29 remaining, Courtney O'Shaughnessy's goal with 27 seconds left gave Salem an 8-7 halftime lead and put the Tigers ahead to stay.
 
Maryanna Antoniou scored on the Tigers' opening possession of the third period and ten Bloemendal contributed two goals to what turned into an 8-0 run as Salem extended its lead to 13-7. The Tigers held a 17-11 lead on Beatrice Popescu's goal with 5:09 left in the fourth period before La Salle began to rally.
 
La Salle scored a pair of goals 40 seconds apart and the Explorers completed a 4-0 run with a power play goal with 1:46 remaining in the contest. Garibbo scored with 1:16 remaining as Salem held on for the win.
 
ten Bloemendal finished with four goals and O'Shaughnessy added three goals. Garibbo tallied four assists, while Piper finished with eight saves.
 
The win was the Tigers' second in as many games against La Salle this season.
 
After trailing VMI 9-8 at halftime, Salem scored four unanswered goals in the third period to take a 12-9 lead. Antoniou tied the game with 6:36 left in the period and ten Bloemendal scored a power play goal just 32 seconds apart to put the Tigers on top. Garibbo capped the run with a pair of goals, the second coming on a penalty shot, to give Salem its biggest lead of the game with 3:38 left.
 
But that would be the Tigers' final goal as VMI ended the game on a 5-0 run. Keydet goalkeeper Isabel French recorded a pair of saves in the final 78 seconds of the contest to seal the win.
 
Garibbo led Salem with four goals, while Piper recorded 16 saves.
 
Salem wraps up tournament play with a pair of games Sunday as the Tigers take on Siena College at 9:15 a.m. and square off against No. 23 Bucknell University at 2:15 p.m.