Box Score

HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team got back in the win column on Wednesday, defeating La Verne at home by a final score of 13-8. 

After a rainy morning, the sun peeked out at Pioneer Pool about an hour before game time. There was a great crowd on hand for the midweek match as CSUEB celebrated National Student-Athlete Day by honoring the academic achievements of the Pioneers during halftime.

In the tank, it was a physical contest that featured 26 exclusions. It was also a high-scoring affair, as games often are in the tight confines of Pioneer Pool. The teams got started right away, trading off goals throughout the first quarter for a total of eight in the first eight minutes of play.

Brittany Smith, Briana Ruiz, Tahnee Trew, and Adrien Van Dyke all scored in the opening period. The Leopards notched two power play goals and converted a five-meter penalty shot to allow them to keep pace.

The score was tied 4-4 after the first, but the Pioneers pulled away over the next two periods. Goals by Ruiz, Ivanna Anderson, and Cheyenne Brady in the first three minutes of the second period quickly made it 7-4. Then after a La Verne goal, Anderson netted her second to put the Pioneers back up by three.

The Leopards took advantage of another penalty shot and scored another power play goal in the third, but it wasn't enough to keep by with East Bay's offense. Anderson and Van Dyke both notched hat tricks in the period, and Auriel Bill got in on ther fun with two goals within the span of a minute. 

The Pioneers led 13-7 after three, then went scoreless in the final period as they slowed down the pace. Goalkeeper Daniela Passoni held ULV to just one goal in the final eight minutes, however, preventing any hopes of a comeback. She and Makenna Nation split the game in the cage, with the latter playing the first two quarters to earn the victory.

Anderson and Van Dyke each tallied three assist to lead the Pioneers as well. 

The Pioneers have this upcoming weekend off before returning to Pioneer Pool to host a pair of conference rivals in Fresno Pacific and Sonoma State on back-to-back days next Friday and Saturday.