Scoresheet

HAYWARD, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay water polo team used an early lead to hold off a late surge from No. 20 CSU Bakersfield in a 13-12 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers (5-6) avenged a loss to the Roadrunners earlier this season, scoring 12 goals in the final three quarters to help overcome a six-goal fourth period for CSUB. 

"I was really happy with our offensive movement, since that was our focus this week," East Bay Head Coach Lisa Cooper said. "We also communicated very well defensively. Bakersfield is a very good team and I am proud that we stuck to our game plan."

The Roadrunners opened scoring and took a 2-0 lead before Sara Hudyn got the Pioneers on the board late in the first quarter to send the game into the second period with CSU Bakersfield leading 2-1.

East Bay caught fire in the second quarter, holding the Roadrunners to one goal while scoring five of its own. Carly Clark and Erica Crain made it three straight goals for the Pioneers, who took their first lead of the game, 3-2, with 4:28 to play in the half. CSUB tied the game at three with their only goal of the quarter, but East Bay answered back, getting its second 6-on-5 goal of the period from Kate McAfee to regain the lead. Claire Pierce and Clark made it a 6-3 lead for the Pioneers with two goals in the final minute before the half. 

Though the Roadrunners opened the third quarter with a 6-on-5 goal, East Bay posted back-to-back player-advantage goals from Crain and Clark to take an 8-4 lead with 3:03 left in the quarter. Bakersfield cut the lead back to three before Crain and Hudyn each scored a goal in less than a minute to put the Pioneers up by five, 10-5, their largest lead of the game. The five-goal lead didn't last long, however, as the Roadrunners scored in the final minute of the period to send the game into the fourth quarter with East Bay leading 10-6.

In a wild fourth quarter, the two teams combined for nine goals, including six from CSU Bakersfield. Pierce opened scoring in the period just 14 seconds in, giving East Bay back its five-goal lead, but CSUB answered back just eight seconds later to make it 11-7 in favor of the Pioneers. Crain posted her third goal of the game with 6:39 left to play to put East Bay up 12-7 before back-to-back Roadrunner goals in 6-on-5 situations cut the lead to just three for the first time since the 2:43 mark in the third period.

With just over three minutes remaining in regulation, Pierce made it 13-9 to cap the Pioneers' scoring efforts and put away what would end up being the game winner. Though the Roadrunners posted three goals in the final three minutes of play, East Bay's defense held them off for the final 1:15 to pick up the win.

Clark finished the game with four goals to pace the Pioneers, who also got three goals apiece from Pierce and Crain. Hudyn added two scores for East Bay, while McAfee also got onto the scoresheet with one goal. Senior Jayme Pekarske had her work cut out for her in goal, making 15 saves to hold off CSUB and earn the win. The Roadrunners were led by six goals from Shannon McKensie, while Megan Pezzolla made nine saves in the cage. 

The victory marked the Pioneers' second over a Division I opponent this season and their third win against a WWPA team so far. East Bay also posted its first win over a ranked opponent during the 2012 campaign. 

Cal State East Bay returns to action next weekend when it travels to Thornton, Colo., for the Colorado State Tournament. The Pioneers and host Rams will open the tournament action on Mar. 3 at 8 a.m. PT at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center.