Box Score: HU 15, CSUEB 8 - F

HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's water polo dropped a 15-8 decision to Harvard on Wednesday night under the lights at Pioneer Pool. Early on it was Taylor Cross helping the Pioneers keep pace scoring four of her game-high five goals in the first half.

"My goal was to get into set, be patient, and wait for the ball to come around. The team did a really good job tonight with its ball movement," said Cross. "I don't think (Harvard) was expecting us to be as strong as we were in set."

It was all about offense in the first half with the teams combining for 14 scores over the opening 16 minutes of play. On three different occasions in the first quarter Cross scored to bring the Pioneers to within a single goal.

East Bay's first of three 6-on-5 conversions on the evening made it a 4-3 score in favor of the Crimson with 1:46 left in the opening frame. Cross and Olivia Mackell combined to draw seven of the team's nine ejections in the game.

"Their defense was good and it wasn't easy. It's all about positioning and I made sure to have good position," said Cross on her strategy in collecting a game-high four drawn exclusions. "We knew they came in tonight playing a lot of tough games, while we were fresh. It was hard, but I was able to turn (the defenders) with some consistency."

However Harvard (14-7) then proceeded to score three unanswered goals and five of the next six overall to take a five goal advantage late in the half. A late second half goal from Ka'iliponi McGee stemmed the tide and was the final score heading into intermission.

HU's Yoshi Andersen single handedly seized control of the game scoring a natural hat trick spanning the third and fourth quarters. It sparked a streak of five unanswered goals capped off by scores from Charlotte Hendrix and Michelle Martinelli.

Hendrix and Alexis Del Toro finished with four assists apiece to pace the Crimson. Andersen led Harvard with four goals. She was one of four different HU players to score multiple times including Hendrix with three, Martinelli with a pair, and Kalina Grabb contributing the game's first two goals.

Harvard goalkeeper Cleo Harrington made 10 saves in the win. East Bay goalkeeper Marrina Nation played 26 of 32 minutes and made 10 saves in the defeat.

Cal State East Bay outdrew Harvard 9-3 overall in exclusions. CSUEB converted 3-of-8 power play chances and Cross scored one of her game-high five goals on a five-meter penalty shot. HU cashed in on its limited opportunities going 2-for-3.

"I thought our 6-on-5 was better tonight than in the past. We've spent time this week on it and we will continue to work on it," Cross stated. "Today was one of our stronger days, but we still want to convert at a higher level."

East Bay's Alyssa Hess scored one of the team's three player advantage goals. Simonne Call also scored in the loss.

Cal State East Bay (6-12) will head to southern California to play four games over two days. The Pioneers will take on Division III squads Whittier and Occidental to begin the trip on Sunday, March 22, at the Slade Aquatics Center on the Whittier campus.