Box Score: CSEB 5, CSMB 4 - F

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Cal State East Bay will move on to the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) championship game following a 5-4 win over rival Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday. The Pioneers will make their first ever WWPA Tournament final appearance, doing so against No. 13 nationally ranked and tournament host UC San Diego on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m. inside the Canyonview Aquatic Center.

Website: 2014 WWPA Championships

"Our defense really stepped up and played extremely smart. Marrina Nation had a great game with all nine of her saves being game changers," praised Cal State East Bay Head Coach Lisa Cooper.

The Pioneers never trailed or led by more than a single goal over the entire 32 minutes. Breanna Ritter, Jennifer Lightbody, Olivia Mackell, Taylor Cross, and Allison Zell each scored once to regain the lead after Cal State Monterey Bay (10-18) tied the game on four separate occasions. Zell scored the game-winner with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers held on for the victory.

CSUMB's Cami Kellogg led all players scoring the first two of her team's four goals. Jessica Laurence and Ashton Palmer scored in the third and fourth quarters respectively. Goalkeeper Amanda Jennings was credited with 12 saves in the loss.

All three meetings this year were decided by a single goal with CSUEB earning victories in the final two matchups to take the season series. The Pioneers will enter Sunday's match on a 4-game win streak with a pair of victories over WWPA squads Sonoma State and CSU Monterey Bay.

"It is so exciting to make our first WWPA Championship game. We truly earned the opportunity to play for the first WWPA title in program history," said Cooper.

Cal State East Bay (17-13) will take on UC San Diego (25-10) in hopes of snapping the Tritons' current 8-game win streak. UCSD defeated Sonoma State 14-5 in the other semifinal to close out Saturday's schedule.

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