HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team returns to Pioneer Pool for its 2017 home opener this weekend, hosting No. 22 Cal State Northridge for a Sunday morning showdown at 11 a.m.

The Pioneers began the regular season last Saturday on the road at Fresno Pacific, defeating the Sunbirds 12-9 at Sunnyside Acquatic Center. Senior Rocio Fesembeck led all players with four goals, while senior Olivia Mackell and freshman Auriel Bill scored twice each. All-Conference goalkeeper Nikki Vaughan tallied 11 saves in three quarters before sophomore Makenna Nation took over for the fourth.

Under 15th-year head coach Lisa Cooper, CSUEB has now won 14 straight games over the last 10 seasons against FPU, which will join the Pioneers in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) next year in 2018.

For the third straight week to open the season, East Bay is receiving votes in the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches national top-25 poll. Cal State Northridge checks in at No. 22 in the most recent rankings. 

The Pioneers will look to open their home schedule in the win column. Last season the team posted a 16-11 overall record, which included a mark of 3-4 in Pioneer Pool. 

Cal State Northridge is 1-3 on the season after competing last weekend in UC Santa Barbara's Winter Invitational. The Matadors beat Sonoma State 9-6 for their first win under new head coach Matt Warsaw. They dropped a tight matchup 6-4 to Indiana, and then fell to top-10 teams USC (16-3) and Michigan (18-5). 

Katelyn Fairchild was CSUN's top scorer over the weekend, with nine goals to go along with three assists and 14 steals. Madeleine Sanchez added four goals and 17 steals. Goalkeeper Niki Van Vugt played 13 of the team's 16 quarters at UCSB, tallying 31 saves.

The Pioneers have never defeated Cal State Northridge, posting an 0-6 record all-time. However, this will be the first time the Matadors have competed in Pioneer Pool since 2003.