Box score

HAYWARD, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay water polo team used a pair of four-goal quarters to hold on for a 12-8 victory over Cal Lutheran on Friday at Pioneer Pool. The Pioneers (4-5) held off a late push from the Regals to pick up their first win in the last three games.

East Bay jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start the game off, getting two goals from Erica Crane and a goal apiece from Kate McAfee and Sara Hudyn before Cal Lutheran managed a score with just four seconds left in the first quarter to send the game into the second frame with the Pioneers leading 4-1. The Regals carried the momentum into the second quarter, scoring back-to-back goals to cut the lead to just one. East Bay answered back with its only goal of the period from Carly Clark to take a 5-3 lead. Cal Lu finished scoring with its third goal of the quarter to send the game into the half with the Pioneers leading 5-4. 

Cal State East Bay out-scored the Regals, 4-1 in the third quarter. Back-to-back goals from Hudyn and Crain made it a three-goal lead before Cal Lutheran notched its only score of the frame to cut the lead back to two. The Pioneers, however, finished off the quarter with goals from Clark and Paschall in the final two minutes to take a 9-5 advantage into the final period.

Just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Regals took advantage of a 6-on-5 opportunity to cut the lead back to three. Crain responded a minute later with her fourth goal of the game to give East Bay a 10-6 advantage. After nearly three scoreless minutes, Clark added another score to give the Pioneers their first five-goal lead of the game. Though the Regals cut the gap back to three goals with two minutes remaining, Hudyn notched her third goal to secure the four-goal win for the Pioneers.

Crain paced East Bay with four goals on the day, while both Clark and Hudyn added three scores. Paschall and McAfee rounded out the scoring for the Pioneers with a goal apiece. Senior Jayme Pekarske made six saves in goal to guide East Bay to its fourth win of the season. The Regals were led by Kelsey Bergemann, Shannon Streeter and Christina Messer who each posted a pair of goals, while Jessika Bell made six stops in the cage for Cal Lu. 

Cal State East Bay returns to action tomorrow when it travels to the South Bay to meet WWPA opponent Santa Clara. The Pioneers and Broncos will get underway at 12 p.m. on Saturday in Santa Clara.