Box Score (PDF)

HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team came up a bit short in its final home game of the 2019 season on Friday, falling to No. 23 ranked Cal State Northridge by a final score of 11-7 at Pioneer Pool. 

Prior to the match, the Pioneers held their annual "Senior Day" ceremony to honor seniors Cheyenne Brady, Maeve Flynn, Brooke Hodgkinson, Makenna Nation, Cheyenne Pena and Brittany Smith

It turned out to be an especially memorable day for Pena, who recorded her first hat trick in her last home game to lead the Pioneers offensively. 

Overall, East Bay was able to keep it close most of the away against the Matadors, but they also never led. The contest wasn't as tight as the meeting between the two teams back in February, which ended with an 11-9 CSUN win, but the Pioneers nonetheless had a number of scoring opportunities. 

CSUN scored the first three goals of the game, but East Bay answered back in the opening quarter as Pena converted two power plays for CSUEB's first two scores. The Matadors led 4-2 after one, and then the second quarter was a defensive battle. CSUN netted the only goal of the period on a powerplay with four minutes left, sending the Pioneers into halftime with a 5-2 deficit. 

The game got interesting early in the third when Adrien Van Dyke and Ivanna Anderson both found the back of the cage to bring the Pioneers back within two at 6-4. That momentum was short-lived, however, as the Matadors answered back with two scores before the end of the quarter.

The Pioneers had their highest-scoring quarter of the afternoon in the fourth, as Pena tallied her third, Anderson netted her second, and Payton Bosque got in the scoresheet with a powerplay goal. However, East Bay was never able to draw closer than a three-goal deficit, allowing CSUN to close out the win with relatively little drama.

The Pioneers are back in action Saturday afternoon as they travel up to Rohnert Park for a crucial Western Water Polo Association designated conference game against Sonoma State, which will be the penultimate match of the regular season.