Box Score (PDF)

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team is headed back to the semifinals of the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships for the fifth straight year after defeating Gannon on Friday afternoon in the opening round of the 2018 tournament by a score of 12-8. 

Freshman Adrien Van Dyke celebrated her First Team All-WWPA selection by posting five goals and three steals to lead the No. 2 seeded Pioneers, who have now won 10 of their last 11 to improve their overall record to 17-8 on the season.

It was a strong effort on both sides of the tank for East Bay, which allowed just two goals over the span of 17 minutes after Gannon's Cameron Ruh scored the first of her three goals 57 seconds into the contest to put the Knights ahead 1-0.

A minute later, after a Gannon exclusion, Van Dyke converted a 6-on-5 advantage to even the score. The Saskatchewan native scored again to give the Pioneers the lead (for good), and then 40 seconds later Cheyenne Pena made it 3-1. Gannon answered back with a goal, but then in the final minute of the period, Van Dyke notched another power play conversion and WWPA Player oft he Year Auriel Bill beat the first quarter buzzer to give East Bay a three-goal lead.

The teams played scoreless through the first four minutes of the second period before Van Dyke secured her hat trick to make it 6-2. Gannon scored its only goal of the quarter a minute later, and then freshman Ivanna Anderson found the back of the cage on back-to-back possessions to put the Pioneers up 8-3 heading into the break.

The Knights mounted a bit of a rally in the third, netting two goals and holding CSUEB off the scoreboard for the first six minutes after halftime. But with 2:18 remaining, Ruh was called for a five-meter penalty and Gabriella Garcia converted the penalty shot, giving the Pioneers some momentum back with a four-goal lead heading into the final period. 

Bill opened the scoring in the fourth with her second goal of the day. Then after Gannon took advantage of a power play to get back within four, Anderson netted her third of the game. And minute later, Van Dyke followed a Gannon exclusion with her fifth goal to make it 12-6. That put the icing on the cake, as the Knights scored twice in the final few minutes, but didn't have nearly enough time to erase their deficit.

Van Dyke continues her late-season hot streak, having now scored at least four goals in five of her last six games. Fellow rookie Maci Taylor filled up the scoresheet with a pair of steals and a team-high three assists. Anderson's hat trick was her second straight, following three goals in the regular season finale against Sonoma State as well. 

The Pioneers will take on a familiar foe in their next match. Saturday's semifinal round pits East Bay against No. 6 seed Cal State Monterey Bay, which defeated Mercyhurst 9-7 in the first round. This will be the third meeting of the season between the Pioneers and Otters, and CSUEB will try for its third victory at 4:15 p.m. The winner advances to Sunday's championship game to battle the UC San Diego/Sonoma State winner.