Box Score (PDF)

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team finished the season as Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) runner-up for the fourth time in five years after falling to No. 12 ranked UC San Diego in Sunday's championship game by a final score of 12-2.

The top-seeded Tritons captured their sixth straight conference title in their home pool of Canyonview Aquatic Center to earn the WWPA's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Championships. The Pioneers finish an outstanding season with an overall record of 18-9.

East Bay fought hard against a talented UCSD squad, but found itself in an early hole after being whistled for four exclusions in the first quarter, which led to three Triton goals. 

After going scoreless in the opening period, the Pioneers found the back of the cage on their first possession of the second as Brittany Smith made it 3-1 off an assist from WWPA Player of the Year Auriel Bill. Two minutes later, Adrien Van Dyke found Ivanna Anderson, who continued her impressive weekend with a goal to bring the Pioneers within one.

CSUEB had some momentum at that point, but WWPA Newcomer of the Year Taylor Onstott scored twice before the end of the second quarter -- one of which came on yet another Triton power play -- to put UCSD back up 5-2.

Unfortunately that was all the offense East Bay could muster. The Tritons switched goalkeepers at halftime, and Bennett Bugelli held the Pioneers off the scoreboard over the final 16 minutes en route to being named WWPA Tournament Most Valuable Player. UCSD scored three times in the third to take a comfortable 8-2 lead into the final period, then tacked on four more insurance goals in the last few minutes.

Three Pioneers captured All-Tournament honors, as Anderson and Makenna Nation were named to the First Team, while Van Dyke earned a Second Team nod. Anderson finished the weekend as CSUEB's leading scorer, racking up 10 goals, three assists, and four steals. 

Nation totaled 21 saves and nine steals and anchored a dominant defensive effort by the Pioneers in Saturday's 12-2 win over CSUMB in the semifinal round. Van Dyke notched a goal, an assist, and three steals in that win over the Otters. She was also fantastic in CSUEB's opening-round victory over Gannon on Friday with a game-high five goals, finishing the tournament with six goals and seven steals.