Score sheet (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team closed out its trip to Indiana University's "Fluid Five" Tournament with a 10-4 victory over Mercyhurst on Sunday afternoon.

It was the second straight win for the Pioneers over a Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) opponents, as they defeated Gannon Friday evening.

East Bay grabbed an early lead against the Lakers when Casey Rushforth scored on an assist from Taylor Cross. Rocio Fesembeck made it 2-0 shortly after that with a goal off a pass from Sabrina Hatzer.

Both teams scored power play goals before the end of the first quarter. Simonne Call assisted on a goal by Brandi Carroll with a 6-on-5 advantage, but then Mercyhurst cashed in on a Nicole Williams exclusion to make the score 3-1 after the first.

Cross scored a pair of goals in the second period, but the Lakers found the back of the cage twice as well to keep their deficit at just two heading into halftime. 

Fesembeck notched her second goal to open the scoring in the second half, but she was called for a kick-out shortly after that and Mercyhurst converted to make it 6-4 in favor of CSUEB.

At that point, the Pioneers started to pull away. Goalkeeper Nikki Vaughan played an outstanding match in the cage, and she also picked up an assist on Rushforth's second goal of the game to end the third quarter.

The final period was all Pioneers. Nicole Williams scored early in the frame to make it 8-4. Then in the final minutes, Rushforth completed the hat trick off an assist by Kallie McHugh, and Call scored on the last possession to give East Bay the 10-4 win.

The Pioneers now return home to California to prepare for a big game against conference rival Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday afternoon, Mar. 25.