HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team returns to action this week with a pair of non-conference matches at Santa Clara University's Sullivan Aquatic Center. 

The Pioneers take on Concordia-Irvine in a neutral game at 1:00 p.m., before battling the host Broncos at 4:30 p.m. That second game will feature live scoring and a video stream.

East Bay coming off a solid showing at home last weekend, in which they split a doubleheader with Cal State Monterey Bay and Azusa Pacific. Auriel Bill paced the Pioneers with four goals, three assists, and three steals in the morning contest, as CSUEB defeated the Otters 13-8 in the designated Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) matchup between the two teams. East Bay then fell 10-6 to a talented APU squad later that afternoon to drop their overall record to an even 7-7. 

Bill has been outstanding so far this season, leading the team with 26 goals, 23 assists, and 24 steals. The Pioneers have six other players with at least 10 goals this season, led by newcomer Adrien Van Dyke (15 goals) and sophomore Briana Ruiz (12 goals, seven assists, 16 steals).

This will be the first meeting of the season between CSUEB and Concordia, which has a record of 5-6. The Eagles have wins over WWPA squads Cal State Monterey Bay and Sonoma State, but dropped both ends of a doubleheader last weekend against George Washington and Fresno Pacific.

It will be the third time the Pioneers have played Santa Clara this year, as the two old rivals will have their season series decided by a a rubber match. The Pioneers won the first meeting, 11-10, in Hayward, but the Broncos got their revenge with a 706 victory the following week at the Triton Invitational. Hannah Buck leads SCU with 28 goals, while Annie Ethridge has 17 goals and a team-high 21 assists.