Game 1 box | Game 2 box

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay water polo team dropped a pair of close contests on the first day of the Pacific Invitational in Stockton on Saturday. The Pioneers (2-2) fell to Division I Pacific, 8-4, before dropping an overtime decision to Wagner, 11-10, in their second game of the day and fourth and final game of the weekend. 

East Bay opened the day against the host Tigers, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal from Claire Pierce just a minute into the game. Pacific responded with a goal from Elise Martin to tie up the game and cap scoring in a first quarter that saw the two goalies, Jayme Pekarske and Michele Relton, combine for five saves. 

The second quarter saw the Tigers take their first lead and hold the Pioneers scoreless. Pacific scored four straight goals to take a 5-1 lead into the half. Following the break, neither team found the back of the net in the third period, sending the game into the final quarter with Pacific leading 5-1. 

The Tigers pushed the lead to five with a goal to start the fourth period before Pierce answered with a goal to end the East Bay scoring drought that extended back to the first minute of the first quarter. A 6-on-5 goal from Julia Charlesworth closed the gap to just three with 6:06 to play. Pacific answered with back-to-back goals to regain a five-goal lead with under three minutes remaining. Though Pierce scored a late goal, it was not enough for the Pioneers, who took their first loss of the season.

In game two, the Pioneers and Mustangs battled for the full four quarters and needed extra time to settle things in a high-scoring affair. Pierce opened scoring with back-to-back goals to put East bay up 2-0 before Wagner responded with three straight goals to take a 3-2 advantage going into the second period. 

Though the Mustangs pushed their lead to two goals, East Bay battled back, getting four straight scores to take a 6-4 lead. During the quarter Carly Clark, Kate McAfee and Pierce notched goals and the Pioneers converted on two of their four 6-on-5 opportunities and on a penalty shot to take a two-goal lead into the half.

Out of the break, Wagner regained momentum, drawing even with two goal in the first two minutes of the third quarter. East Bay responded with a goal from Erica Crain to take a 7-6 lead, but the Mustangs answered right back. The Pioneers finished the quarter off with a score from Sophie Armstrong in a 6-on-5 situation to take an 8-7 lead into the fourth period. 

The Mustangs opened the final quarter of regulation with three straight goals to take a 10-8 advantage with five minutes remaining. The Pioneers, however, had Pierce to pull them back even, as she scored two goals in the span of a minute to send the game into overtime. 

Wagner was the only team to score in extra time, getting a goal in the first period of overtime. The Pioneers squandered two 6-on-5 chances in the second overtime, handing the Mustangs the 11-10 win.

Pierce paced the Pioneers on the day with nine goals, while Clark, McAfee, Armstrong, Charlesworth and Crain each added a goal apiece. In goal, Pekarske posted 20 saves in the two losses.

Cal State East Bay will look to get back on track next weekend when it travels to the Triton Invitational in La Jolla. The Pioneers are set to open the tournament against Loyola Marymount on Feb. 11 at 12:30 p.m.