THORNTON, Colo. - The Cal State East Bay water polo team gave up five fourth-quarter goals in an eventual 8-5 loss to No. 13 Indiana that capped the Colorado State Tournament on Sunday. The Pioneers (6-7) were playing their fourth straight game against a Division I opponent and their second contest against a nationally-ranked team in as many weeks. 

East Bay opened the game with some strong defense, holding the Hoosiers scoreless in the opening period while taking a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers continued to build the momentum, taking a 2-0 lead with 5:36 to play in the second quarter before IU had even gotten on the board. The Hoosiers finally ended the scoring drought with just over five minutes left in the half and made it two straight to tie the game at two goals apiece at the break. 

Tied 2-2, the Pioneers were held scoreless in the third quarter while Indiana increased its run to three-straight goals to take its first lead of the game. The Hoosiers extended the advantage to two goals to start a high-scoring fourth quarter that saw the two teams combine for eight of the game's 13 goals.

Trailing 4-2, East Bay cut the lead down to one, just over a minute into the fourth period, but IU responded and made sure the Pioneers would never get any closer, putting up three straight goals to take a 7-3 lead. Though Cal State East Bay cut the lead down to three with 3:38 left to play, Indiana solidified the win with its fifth goal of the quarter and eighth of the game. The Pioneers scored a goal on a late lob but it was not enough to overcome the late push by the Hoosiers. 

Cal State East Bay returns to action next wekeend when it welcomes WWPA opponent Cal State Monterey Bay. The Pioneers and Otters are set for a 12 p.m. start on Mar. 10 at Pioneer Pool.