Score Sheet (PDF)

LA JOLLA, Calif.-- The Cal State East Bay water polo team fell behind 6-2 after two quarters and couldn't make up the deficit in the second half in an 11-5 loss to No. 19 UC San Diego Friday evening in a WWPA match. The loss drops the Pioneers, who entered the national rankings this week at No. 25, to 2-3 for the 2016 season. 

Down 1-0 in the first quarter, the Pioneers tied it up after Casey Rushforth netted a goal with 2:07 left in the opening quarter. The momentum shifted back to the home team at the end of the period, as the Tritons made it 2-1 with a 6-on-5 goal with one second left on the clock in the first.

The Tritons then netted the first four goals in the second to build a 6-1 lead. Jenn Lightbody answered back with a score with 1:57 left to give the Pioneers a moral boost heading to the half.

East Bay got a second goal by Lightbody and a goal by newcomer Rocio Fesembeck in the third, but they allowed four more Triton goals and entered the final quarter trailing 10-4

Tori Dettloff put one past the Triton goalie in the fourth, but UC San Diego hung on to win 11-5.

Nikki Vaughn totaled 11 saves and three steals in the cage for the Pioneers. The two goals by Lightbody give her six on the season. Dettloff now has nine, Rushforth has seven, and Fesembeck has four.  

Olivia Mackell tallied three steals to lead the Pioneers. Taylor Cross, the team leader in goals entering the contest, was held scoreless against the Tritons, but she drew a team-high five exclusions.

Cal State East Bay will remain in La Jolla Saturday and Sunday to compete in the UCSD Triton Invitational. The Pioneers' first match is scheduled for 10:40 A.M. against No. 5 Arizona State. CSUEB will play a second match at either 4:00 P.M. or 5:20 P.M. Saturday depending on their result against the Sun Devils.

See the UCSD Triton Invitational homepage for more information.