Score Sheet (PDF)

HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team fell to Division I Santa Clara University on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 14-10 in the first home game of the season at Pioneer Pool. 

The Pioneers drop to 2-2 with the loss, as they were unable to erase a 10-5 halftime deficit. Casey Rushforth led the way with four goals, and fellow senior Tori Dettloff posted three goals, two assists, and two steals. 

East Bay struck first on a beautiful day in the Hayward hills. Dettloff found Taylor Cross just over minutes into the first quarter for her ninth goal of the season. But the Broncos bounced back, netting three straught goals to grab the lead. Dettloff added another assist and a goal of her own in the period, but after an eventful first eight minutes, SCU led 6-3.

Cross and Rushforth both scored their second goals of the afternoon in the second quarter, the latter on a nice pass from freshman goalkeeper Makenna Nation, who played the second period making her Pioneer debut.

The Broncos came out strong after halftime, holding the Pioneers scoreless through the first fine minutes of the third quarter. SCU added two more scores to go up 12-5, and it looked like they might pull away.

But East Bay refused to roll over, and managed to rally back. Amy Chinn got the Pioneers on the board with three minutes to go in the third quarter, then Dettloff found the back of the cage twice in the final two minutes of the period. 

Rushforth scored again thirty seconds into the fourth to make it four unanswered goals for the home team. That made the score 12-9, but unfortunately that was as close as East Bay would get. The Broncos notched a pair of 6-on-5 goals to prevent a Pioneer comeback and seal the victory. Ultimately, SCU drew 11 East Bay ejections and scored six power play goals, which made the difference in the game.

Olivia Mackell drew five exclusions to lead the Pioneers. Nikki Vaughn played first, third, and fourth quarters in goal, tallying six saves and a steal.

Next up, CSUEB heads south for a WWPA conference match against No. 21 UC San Diego on Feb. 12, before competing in UCSD's Triton Invitational starting Feb. 13.