Game 1 Stats | Game 2 Stats

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Cal State East Bay water polo team won both ends of its doubleheader on Day One of the Bronco Invitational, edging out Sonoma State, 10-8, and the host Broncos, 9-8. The Pioneers (14-12, 2-4 WWPA) got a bit of revenge against the two conference foes after losing narrowly to both earlier in the season.

Jennifer Lightbody notched a hat trick, leading the team with three goals in the win over Sonoma State (10-15, 3-4 WWPA). Sara Hudyn added to her conference-leading total with six goals in the second game, but it was Allison Zell who found the back of the net with one second remaining to give East Bay the dramatic win over Santa Clara (12-15, 5-2 WWPA).

"My team played outstanding water polo today against two very tough opponents," said head coach Lisa Cooper after the games. "It was great that we had different players stepping up. Our defense was on fire, and the communication was excellent."

Game 1 – CSUEB 10, Sonoma State 8

The Pioneers took on the Seawolves for the third time this season and were finally able to pick up a victory. They grabbed an early lead after allowing a 6-on-5 goal in the first. Lightbody scored her first of the day with 14 seconds remaining in the period, putting the team up 3-1.

Lightbody scored again to begin the second quarter, and Zell notched her second goal of the game just before haltime. The game remained a bit of a defensive struggle, but the Pioneers held serve and took a 5-3 lead into halftime.

East Bay started to pull away in the third and grabbed the biggest lead of the game when Lighbody's third goal made it 9-4. However, the Seawolves answered back with a pair of goals before the end of the third quarter to keep the game tight.

The Pioneers essentially iced the game when Julia Charlesworth scored to put them up 10-6 with less than four minutes to go. They again allowed a couple late scores, but finished off an impressive defensive effort with the 10-8 victory.

Hudyn, Charlesworth, and Zell scored two goals apiece in the game, and Charlie Warburton added one. Zell and Hudyn each posted three steals, while Kate McAfee led the way with three assists. Marina Nation totaled seven saves in the cage.

Game 2 – CSUEB 9, Santa Clara 8

The second game of the doubleheader was similar to the first — that is, it was very much a defensive battle. But this game was perhaps more evenly matched, with the Pioneers pulling out the 9-8 victory after having lost 9-8 to the Broncos at home earlier this year.

Things started slowly in the first quarter. Santa Clara scored 30 seconds into the game to grab a 1-0 lead, but that was the only goal they managed in the period against Nation, who played an outstanding game. Hudyn posted a pair of goals to put East Bay up 2-1 after the first.

Hudyn secured her hat trick just 2:30 into the second quarter to extend to the lead to 3-1. However, Elle Surber scored twice in the final two minutes of the half to keeo the game tight. The Pioneers led 4-3 heading into the break.

Santa Clara took the defensive instenisty up a level coming out of halftime and held the Pioneers scoreless long enough to take their first lead of the game at 5-4. But Hudyn was able to grab momentum back, scoring with 55 seconds left in the period to tie the game at 5-5.

The junior's fifth goal of the game gave the Pioneers a brief advantage, but the Broncos roared back and scored on consecutive possessions to regain the lead, 7-6. Hudyn's sixth goal evened things up at 7-7, and it looked good for East Bay when McAfee found the back of the net a minute later to make it 8-7 with 1:24 remaining.

However, Julia Peters notched her fourth goal of the game for Santa Clara, once again tying the score. The teams went into the final minute of play at 8-8. East Bay managed to get a defensive stop and had the ball with a chance for the final possession. They ticked the clock all the way down until just one second remained when Zell's shot hit the back of the cage, giving the Pioneers a dramatic win.

Hudyn accounted for two-thirds of the team's scoring with six goals. Lightbody and McAfee each tallied a goal and two steals. Nation finished with 12 saves as the Pioneer net-minder. Charlesworth led the team with two assists.

"We had an amazing fight and never gave up against Santa Clara," added Cooper. "Allison's goal at the buzzer was awesome. We proved today that we are a well-rounded team, and that everyone is a threat."

After a great first day, the Pioneers will take on a pair of nationally ranked opponents on Day Two of the tournament. They play No. 8 Hawaii in the morning before meeting up with No. 17 UC San Diego for their final WWPA regular season game. Visit the Bronco Invitational Homepage for the full schedule.