Score sheet

FRESNO, Calif. — 17th-ranked UC San Diego captured the first CCAA Invitational tournament championship with a narrow 9-8 victory over the Pioneer water polo team on Sunday. Three straight goals to break a 6-6 tie at the start of the fourth quarter secured the win for the Tritons in a dramatic, back-and-forth contest.

Sara Hudyn led the way with six goals for Cal State East Bay (16-15). Her last goal was her 107th of the season, which broke the Pioneer single-season record. Heading into the WWPA Championships, Hudyn already has the highest-scoring season in program history.

“That was a great game,” commented head coach Lisa Cooper. “I'm so proud of my entire team, we had an outstanding weekend. Sara was so dominant again. We were right there with UCSD and executed our game plan well. UCSD is a very talented team. They're in first place in the WWPA, so to play a one-goal game with them shows we're playing good water polo.”

Hudyn netted the first two goals of the game to put East Bay up 2-0 in the first, but the Tritons answered with a pair of goals in the last two minutes of the quarter. Capping off an outstanding first half in the cage, goalkeeper Marrina Nation hung a goose egg on the scoreboard in the second quarter. A goal by Claire Pierce and two more from Hudyn gave the Pioneers a 5-2 halftime lead.

Leah Gonzalez found the back of the net three straight times in the third quarter as UCSD tied it back up. Hudyn's fifth score gave East Bay a brief lead, but the Tritons responded, scoring with a 6-on-5 advantage with 19 seconds left. The teams went into the fourth quarter tied 6-6.

The Tritons defense clamped down in the final period, allowing the offense to net the first three goals of the quarter. Trailing9-6 with just two minutes left, the Pioneers attempted a valiant comeback. Hudyn scored her sixth goal with a minute left to draw within two. Kate McAfee then found the back of the net with 30 seconds left to make it 9-8, but East Bay simply ran out of time.

Nation totaled 11 saves in the loss, finishing off an impressive performance in the three games this weekend.

“Marrina continued her exception play,” Cooper added. “She showcased a very aggressive style, coming out of the cage to steal the ball on a number of occasions.”

Hudyn, Pierce, and Nation were all named to the All-Tournament first team. Allison Zell earned second team honors. Below are the full All-Tournaments teams.

Next up for the Pioneers is the WWPA Championships, held next weekend at Santa Clara University. East Bay is expected to take on No. 11 LMU in the first round.


2013 CCAA INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS

MVP
Courtney Miller (UCSD)

FIRST TEAM
Sarah Lizotte (UCSD)
Leah Gonzales (UCSD)
Claire Pierce (CSUEB)
Sara Hudyn (CSUEB)
Marrina Nation (CSUEB)
Jackie Walters (CSUMB)
Alex Tyrell (CSUMB)
Colette Reid (SSU)

SECOND TEAM
Melissa Bartow (UCSD)
Allison Zell (CSUEB)
Christina Keller (CSUMB)
Brittny Hummel (SSU)
Lora Donaldson (APU)
Kelsey Harvey (FPU)
Alison Glaser (CSUSB)