STANFORD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay water polo started its 2024 season at the Stanford Invitational on Saturday at Avery Aquatic Center. The Pioneers defeated Santa Clara, 11-8 in the early match, and lost to No. 16 Pacific, 12-6.
Cal State East Bay 11, Santa Clara 8
After trading two goals each in the first quarter,
Elise Whitworth netted a go-ahead goal at the 2:00 mark of the opening quarter, which was the second of five unanswered goals for the Pioneers through the rest of the first half for a 6-2 lead at halftime. Although the Broncos closed the margin to two goals, trailing 10-8 in the fourth quarter, Whitworth netted her third goal of the match with 5:03 left in regulation for an 11-8 lead toward a season opening victory.
- Whitworth, along with Bailey Barlow and Luna Sarmiento, had three goals each in the opener.
- Hope Grantham had three assists.
- Sarmiento had four steals.
- In net, Daniela Passoni earned the win and made 12 saves.
- Cal State East Bay outshot Santa Clara 31-30 and the Pioneers had seven more steals (11-4) than did the Broncos.
No. 16 Pacific 12, Cal State East Bay 6
Although the Tigers jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the opening quarter, the Pioneers responded with four goals of their own in the second quarter, and only trailed 6-5 at halftime. However, Pacific limited CSUEB to only one goal in the second half and pulled away for a 12-6 win.
- Whitworth scored a pair of goals in the second match of the day. Also finding the net for CSUEB were Grantham, Barlow, Alex Andrist and Rachel Heredia.
- Pacific outshot the Pioneers, 27-19 and won three of the four opening sprints.
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
The Pioneers will travel to Davis to take part in the Aggie Invite hosted by UC Davis next Saturday, February 10. To start the day for CSUEB is a rematch against Pacific at 10 a.m. followed by a matchup against UC Merced at 12:30 p.m. Both matches will be played at Schaal Aquatics Center in Davis.
