HAYWARD, Calif. -- As the Cal State East Bay water polo team enters the final stretch of the regular season, it will play host this week to a pair of conference rivals in the first of four home games over the next three weeks. 

20 matches into the season, the Pioneers finally play their first designated Western Water Polo Association (CCAA) game on Friday afternoon against Fresno Pacific. The following day, the Pioneers welcome in Sonoma State for the first matchup of the year between the two rivals.

CSUEB played just one game last week, a 13-8 win at home over La Verne on Wednesday afternoon. After a back-and-forth opening quarter, the Pioneers powered past the Leopards in the second and third to cruise to victory, evening their record at 10-10 for the season.

Sophomores Ivanna Anderson and Adrien Van Dyke both tallied three goals and three assists to lead the Pioneers against La Verne. Junior Auriel Bill and Briana Ruiz each added two goals as well. 

Van Dyke and Bill are now tied for the team lead this season with 71 total points, which ranks third among all WWPA players. Bill is tied for the conference lead with 35 assists, while Van Dyke ranks No. 5 in goals with 45.

When the Pioneers last met FPU, they escaped Fresno with a 12-11 overtime victory back on Jan. 26. It was the 18th straight victory for East Bay over the Sunbirds dating back 12 seasons. FPU comes into Hayward on a two-game winning streak after earning narrow victories over Cal State Monterey Bay and La Verne last week. FPU has four players account for the majority of their offense -- Sam Witt (38 goals, 23 assists), Amy Zaninovich (37 goals, 18 assists), Katie Kisling (32 goals, 17 assists), and Savannah Mangrum (18 goals, 28 assists). 

Saturday will be the first of two matches in April between the Pioneers and Seawolves. Last year East Bay won both head-to-head contests, but this has been a tightly-contested rivalry over the last several seasons. Recently, Sonoma split a home-and-home series with Cal State Monterey Bay, which was sandwiched around a 10-6 loss at Santa Clara. Annika Erickson (35 goals) and Jojo Williams (32 goals) have been the top scorers for the Seawolves. Goalkeeper Brooke Sullivan ranks fourth in the WWPA in goals against average at 9.72, slotted right between No. 3 Daniela Passoni (9.54) and No. 5 Makenna Nation (9.82).