Box Score: CSUEB 12, CSUMB 11 - F/OT

GENEVA, Ohio – Cal State East Bay outlasted Cal State Monterey Bay 12-11 in overtime in the opening game of the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships on Friday at the SPIRE Institute. The Pioneers survived despite surrendering six unanswered second half goals over a 7-minute stretch which eventually forced overtime.

Cal State East Bay had already suffered defeats twice during the regular season at the hands of Cal State Monterey Bay. The Pioneers looked to buck that trend after taking a 7-1 halftime lead and maintaining a six goal cushion with 11 minutes left in regulation.

"I was very impressed with the way we came out and started the game. I knew we couldn't let up with Monterey Bay being a good team and having earned a comeback win against us earlier this year," said East Bay Head Coach Lisa Cooper.

The Otters 9-8 victory in the original matchup this season was due in large part to a 4-0 second half scoring run out of halftime. CSUMB would mount an even bigger comeback in the postseason matchup to eventually tie the game.

The Pioneer offense came out firing on all cylinders scoring goals on each of its first three possessions. Taylor Cross scored the first pair of her game-high five, followed by back-to-back goals from Ka'iliponi McGee to make it 4-0. Kristin Boston's first goal with the club made it 5-0 less than five minutes into the game.

"Taylor was on fire today. We had a lot of others step up as well and score goals at critical times," Cooper added.

Cross and Olivia Mackell scored in the final two minutes of the opening half pushing the Pioneers to a seemingly comfortable 7-1 cushion at halftime. The teams traded goals capped off by a Tori Dettloff score with 3:01 left in the third quarter to make it a 9-3 game.

Tatiana Veloso and Bree Hogervorst each scored in the final 86 seconds of the third to make it 9-5. At the 4:52 mark of the fourth quarter Kylie Wheelock cut the Otter deficit to three and sparked a swift game-tying scoring run.

Wheelock, Adrianna Craft, Cami Kellogg, and Tatiana Veloso each scored within a 2 minute, 17 second span to erase the early Pioneer advantage and tie the game with 2:25 remaining.

"We had a couple of defensive mix-ups in the second half and Monterey Bay took advantage. They capitalized with goals…and deserve full credit for not giving up and pushing us to the limit," praised Cooper of the Otter's persistence.

CSUEB's Cross scored with 72 seconds left to stem the tide and put the Pioneers back out front. CSUMB's Samantha Whitecotton scored her lone goal of the game on the ensuing possession, eventually forcing overtime.

Cal State East Bay never trailed in Friday's match with Sabrina Hatzer scoring 55 seconds into overtime. Veloso, who finished with a team-high three goals, was the scorer on both Otter power play conversions including her team's final chance in overtime.

Dettloff won the opening sprint in the second overtime period to gain possession. The crucial swim paid dividends as she assisted on the game-winning goal to junior Casey Rushforth on the opening possession.

"That was a very intense game. I am so proud of my team for keeping composed when Monterey Bay came back. We didn't freak out and stuck to our game plan," Cooper said.

The Cal State East Bay 6-on-5 defense played a big role in Friday's result after holding Cal State Monterey Bay to only 2-of-10 conversions in the game. The Otters were just 2-for-10 in the previous two meetings and drew only two kick outs (one penalty) in the most recent matchup.

CSUEB goalkeeper Marrina Nation made 11 saves and held the Otter offense to just one first half goal while picking up her 10th win of the year. CSUMB netminder Amanda Jennings stopped 16 shots in the loss.

Cal State Monterey Bay will play Gannon in an elimination game on Saturday morning. The winner will play top seed UC San Diego in the second semifinal in the afternoon.

Cal State East Bay (12-15) will face Sonoma State (9-18) in the first semifinal match on Saturday, April 25, at 10:15 a.m. PDT. The winner advances to the WWPA title game at 9:15 a.m. PDT on Sunday, April 26.