Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team opened its season on Saturday afternoon with a 12-9 road victory over Fresno Pacific at Sunnyside Aquatic Center.

Junior Rocio Fesembeck led the way with four goals, and goalkeeper Nikki Vaughan started her senior campaign on a high note with 11 saves and two steals in the win. 

The Pioneers jumped out to an early advantage, scoring the first three goals of the afternoon. Nicole Williams had the honor of notching East Bay's first score of the season three and a half minutes into the first quarter. Freshman Auriel Bill tallied her first career goal at 2:43, and then fellow newcomer Gabriella Garcia found the back of the cage less than a minute later. FPU finally got on the board just before the end of the period, and CSUEB held a 3-1 lead after one.

Senior Olivia Mackell scored on the first possession of the second quarter to make it 4-1, but the Sunbirds answered back on two straight goals by Emily Knowles. One of them came on a 6-on-5 situation after Mackell picked up an ejection. Brandi Carroll notched her first goal of the year on a 5-meter penalty shot with 2:38 left, and then both teams scored in the final minute to head into halftime with the Pioneers leading 6-4.

East Bay finally pulled away in the second half, as Fesembeck scored two goals each in the third and fourth quarters. The Pioneers hit the back of the cage four times in the third, as Beverly Ayers scored her first goal as a Pioneer, and Bill and Mackell each notched their second of the game.

The Sunbirds out-scored the Pioneers 4-2 in the final period, but it wasn't enough to seriously threaten a comeback. Fesembeck and FPU's Hannah Holly both achieved hat tricks in the final minutes. Sophomore Makenna Nation took over in goal for the Pioneers in the fourth and closed out the win, recording four saves.

East Bay scored 12 goals on 23 shots for an impressive .522 team shooting percentage. They finished 3-for-8 in power play situations and 1-for-2 on 5-meter penalty shots. 

CSUEB has now won 14 straight games over the last 10 seasons against Fresno Pacific, which will join the Pioneers in the Western Water Polo Association next year in 2018. East Bay and FPU have two more regular season meetings scheduled this season.

But first, the Pioneers return to Hayward to host their 2017 home opener next Sunday against No. 23 ranked Cal State Northridge at Pioneer Pool.