DAVIS, Calif. – On Saturday, Cal State East Bay women's water polo played in its second tournament of the 2024 season. The Pioneers dropped their first match of the Aggie Invitational to No. 17 Pacific, 13-8, but responded in the later match with a 17-5 win over UC Merced. Cal State East Bay is 2-2 on the season thus far.
 

MATCH SUMMARIES

No. 17 Pacific 13, Cal State East Bay 8
 
Both teams played a close match through much of the first half as it was even at 4-4 with 3:05 remaining in the second quarter following Luna Sarmiento's second goal of the day. However, the Tigers scored a pair of goals from Hailey Williams as they led 6-4 at halftime.
 
Goals early in the third quarter from Elise Whitworth and Rachel Heredia tied the match at 6-6, but once again, the next two goals were for the Tigers. But the trading of two straight goals didn't stop there. Whitworth and Sarmiento found the net late in the quarter for an even 8-8 match with less than a minute left in the third. Pacific broke the tie with 33 seconds left in the quarter to lead 9-8 heading into the final frame.
 
In the final quarter, the Tigers held CSUEB scoreless adding four goals to their lead en route to a 13-8 win.

• Sarmiento finished with a hat trick, while Heredia and Whitworth scored two goals each.
• Jordan Jarandson had two assists.
• Hope Grantham had two steals and drew an exclusion.

Cal State East Bay 17, UC Merced 5
 
Two goals from Alex Andrist and one each from Sarmiento and Bailey Barlow led to a quick 4-0 lead after the opening quarter for the Pioneers.
 
Although the Bobcats outscored CSUEB, 3-2 in the second quarter, the Pioneers led 6-3 at the break.
 
Cal State East Bay dominated the second half, outscoring UC Merced, 11-2 to cruise to a 17-5 win. Andrist scored the first three goals of the third quarter.

• Andrist finished with five goals in the match.
• With two goals each were Audrey Dexter and Tavaya Martinezcuello.
• Sarmiento had four assists.
• Picking up her first win with the Pioneers in net was Marilyn Rodriguez-Garcia de Leon, with 11 saves.

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

A tournament tour to continues for the Pioneers next Saturday with two matches in the Bronco Invitational at Sullivan Aquatic Center in Santa Clara. The first of the two is against Concordia University Irvine at noon and CSUEB's later match is set for 3:30 p.m. against Brown. Two more matches follow on Sunday in the Bronco Invitational.