Score sheet

SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- The Pioneer water polo team closed out the 2013 season on a high note, beating Cal State San Bernardino 11-7 in the seventh-place game of the WWPA Championships. Cal State East Bay finishes the season 17-17, reaching the .500 mark for the 11th consecutive season.

All-WWPA selection Claire Pierce finished with a hat trick to lead all scorers in the final game of her East Bay career. With three goals today, she'll graduate as CSUEB's all-time leader with 359 for her career.

Pierce wasn't among the scorers as the Pioneers grabbed a 3-0 lead early in the first period, however. Julia Charlesworth found the back of the cage twice, and WWPA All-Freshman honoree Jennifer Lightbody added a goal. Pierce then scored twice in the final two minutes of the quarter, including a penalty shot with 40 seconds left.

The Pioneers took a 5-2 lead into the second quarter and stretched it out to 8-3 by halftime. Pierce scored again to secure the hat trick, and Allison Zell and Kate McAfee notched goals as well.

With everyone getting a chance to play, the Pioneer defense remained strong in the second half. Goalkeeper Marrina Nation held the Coyotes to just one goal in the third quarter, as East Bay took a 10-4 lead. Lightbody and Nicole Meyer scored in the period. 

Hollie Mickelson became the seventh different Pioneer to score when she hit the back of the cage at the start of the fourth quarter. East Bay allowed a few late goals, but they hung on for the comfortable 11-7 victory. Nation finished with eight saves in the game. 

UC San Diego outlasted LMU 10-8 to claim the WWPA Championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Finals. After the game, Zell was selected to the All-Tournament seocnd team. The junior scored a goal in every game this weekend while running the point for the Pioneers. Below is the complete all-tournament team.

WWPA All-Tournament Teams

First Team
Melissa Bartow (UC San Diego) - MVP
Sarah Lizotte (UC San Diego)
Courtney Miller (UC San Diego)
Claire Wright (LMU)
Alexandra Honny (LMU)
Stephanie Clements (Santa Clara)
Julia Peters (Santa Clara)
Stephanie Weed (Colorado St.)

Second Team
Jolene Guiliana (UC San Diego)
Laura Lopez (LMU)
Jamie Swartz (Santa Clara)
Kelcy Barott (Colorado St.)
Julie Cooper (CSU Mont. Bay)
Adrienne Bisharat (Sonoma St.)
Allison Zell (CSU East Bay)
Misty Vu (CSU San Bern.)