HAYWARD, Calif. -- The first 19 games of the water polo season have essentially served as a preseason for Cal State East Bay, as the success of their season depends on their performance in the next month.

Over the next five weeks, the Pioneers play five games against conference opponents -- including their three designated Western Water Polo Association games -- followed by the WWPA Tournament Apr. 28-30. 

This crucial stretch starts with a pair of WWPA contests sandwiched around this upcoming weekend. On Friday, the Pioneers travel to Seaside for a showdown with Cal State Monterey Bay at 1 p.m. Next Monday, the team returns to Hayward for a re-match of the last three WWPA championships games against 19th-ranked UC San Diego at 2 p.m.

East Bay enters Friday's first WWPA game of the season on a five-game losing streak. They went 0-4 last weekend at CSU Bakersfield's Roadrunner Invitational, but the road trip served as a perfect tuneup for the upcoming stretch of conference games. The Pioneers took some some of the best teams in the nation, falling to to four squads ranked in the top 22 in the NCAA. The team's 11-8 loss to No. 11 Princeton in their last match was a particularly impressive effort, as they scored six goals in the fourth quarter to nearly complete an epic comeback.

Junior Leilani Vazquez was named WWPA Player of the Week on Wednesday, the first such award of her career and the second for the Pioneers this season. She had an outstanding weekend in Bakersfield, totaling five goals and nine drawn ejections. 

Vazquez is East Bay's second-leading scorer this season with 26 goals. She trails only freshman Auriel Bill, who has been tremendous in her rookie season. Bill had seven goals and 13 steals at the Roadrunner Invitational. For the season, she ranks fifth in the WWPA in points (52) and steals (30), sixth in assists (19), and seventh in goals (33).

Rocio Fesembeck and Alicia Tully are tied for third on the team with 17 goals apiece thus far. Senior Olivia Mackell paces the Pioneers with 34 drawn ejections in 19 games. 

This will be the first meeting of the year between the Pioneers and Otters, who are coming off a 2-2 weekend at the Claremont Convergence. Tatiana Voloso is CSUMB's leading scorer with 27 goals and 17 assists, followed by Marisa Lovos (24 goals) ands Adriana Craft (22 goals). The Pioneers won both of their games against Monterey Bay last season and have won three straight over the Otters dating back to 2015.

UCSD is ranked No. 19 in the latest Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches top-25 poll. The Tritons are coming off a 3-2 week with wins over Cal State Northridge, Chapman, and Bucknell, and losses to Wagner and Indiana. Lauren Boyer is the leading scorer in the WWPA with 46 goals for UCSD. Alexis Weiseler is second on the squad with 39 goals and has drawn a team-high 34 ejections.