Box Scores: CSUEB 12, Salem 7 | CSUN 11, CSUEB 9
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team defeated Salem University by a final score of 12-7 Saturday morning to open the Hoosier Classic, hosted by Indiana at Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center. A few hours later, the Pioneers suffered a narrow defeat, 11-9, as the hands of #23 ranked Cal State Northridge.
Freshly rested from a week off from competition, CSUEB came out of the gate strong against Salem, a newcomer to the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) this year. The Pioneers welcomed their new conference foe with three goals in the first four minutes of the match to grab an early lead.
Briana Ruiz netted the first two goals of the game, then
Payton Bosque got in the scoresheet with her first. Salem finally scored just before the first quarter buzzer to make it 3-1, but the Pioneers answered with goals by
Auriel Bill and
Maeve Flynn within a minute of each other early in the second. Then, Bosque's second goal of the morning with 1:27 left before halftime gave the Pioneers a 6-1 advantage.
Adrien Van Dyke and
Tahnee Trew both found the back of the cage in the first two minutes of the third period as the Pioneers kept their momentum going. Their lead was 9-3 after Bosque notched a hat trick just before the end of the quarter.
East Bay stretched its lead out to 11-3 as Flynn netted her second and Ruiz scored her third early in the final period. Salem was able to cut into its deficit with four goals in the last four minutes, but the victory was never in doubt for the Pioneers.
Defensively,
Maci Taylor recorded a team-high three steals. Freshman
Daniela Passoni got the win in the cage after allowing just three goals in three quarters of work.
The second game of the day against CSUN can be added to a growing list of thrilling contests the Pioneers have played this season, which also includes an overtime win at Fresno Pacific, a pair of one-goal victories over Santa Clara, an 11-9 loss to Pomona Pitzer, and an 8-7 win over Toronto.
The Pioneers never led against the nationally ranked Matadors, but they spent virtually the entire game within one or two goals. Northridge quickly jumped ahead 2-0 in the first quarter, but the Pioneers showed them right away they would be in for a battle. Two goals by Van Dyke and a powerplay goal for
Cheyenne Pena evened the score at 3-3 following the opening period.
Brittany Smith found the back of the cage for the Pioneers in the second, but CSUN scored four goals in that period to open up a 7-4 advantage heading into halftime. But once again, CSUEB refused to let them pull away. Goals by Van Dyke and Bosque in the first 80 seconds of the third quarter brought East Bay back within one, and halted the Matador momentum. Northridge added two goals in the third, but Bill netted her first of the game right before the end of the period to make the score 9-7.
East Bay made it a one-goal game when Gina Sorenson scored to open the fourth. CSUN converted a powerplay the next time down the tank to go back up by two, but then Smith scored a minute later to make it 10-9. The Pioneers had a few chances in the last few minutes, but their odds became more dire when the Matadors scored again with 3:38 left to go up by two. CSUN's defense was able to hold CSUEB off the scoreboard down to stretch to secure the narrow win.
Bill led the team with three assists and Van Dyke had a hat trick -- her fourth of the season. Passoni racked up 10 saves in the loss.
The Pioneers are back in the pool for two more matches Sunday to close out the Hoosier Classic. They'll play another WWPA foe in Merychurst in the tournament finale after taking on the host Indiana at 5 a.m. (Pacific time) in a contest that will be streamed on the Big Ten Network.
