FRESNO, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay women's water polo team opened up the 2022 WWPA Championships in Fresno as they took on Mercyhurst. The Pioneers scored the first eleven goals of the match en route to a 15-3 victory.

In the first quarter, the Pioneers would take the lead for good with 7:03 left in the quarter. Bailey Barlow netted her first of the game with 6:19 left in the quarter. Adrien Van Dyke scored a hat trick in the quarter alone and Daniela Passoni scored her third goal of the season to give the Pioneers a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.  

Cal State East Bay added four goals in the second quarter for a 10-0 lead going into the halftime break.  Leti Mosqueda, Luna Sarmiento, Briana Ruiz and Van Dyke scored one goal apiece in the quarter as the Pioneers led 10-0 at halftime.

Mosqueda would find the back of the net with 6:27 left in the third quarter for an early 11-0 lead. The Lakers added a pair of goals in the third to get on the scoreboard for the first time on Friday. 

The Pioneers expanded their lead. Auriel Bill scored with 5:46 left to push the Pioneers' lead back to double digits. Maddie Wittkowske found the back of the net with 3:54 left and Sarmiento would score a pair of goals – the second coming with 2:15 left to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the game, at thirteen, at 15-2. The Lakers would score with 1:57 left for the final tally of the game. 

Cal State East Bay went 5-for-8 on the power play and won three of the four opening sprints. 

"It was a great team win today," said Cal State East Bay head coach Lisa Cooper. "Everyone was focused from the first whistle. Our reactions to counter attack were great and our defense was smothering." 

With the win, the Pioneers advanced to the semifinals of the WWPA Championship on Saturday where they will take on McKendree University at 12:30 p.m. from Fresno State Aquatics Center.