HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's water polo and Biola battled in a WWPA thriller at Pioneer Pool on Friday. With less than three minutes to go in the match, even at 12-12,
Hope Grantham found the net to give the Pioneers the lead, and
Elise Whitworth added another with 40 seconds left for a 14-12 lead, which proved to be critical. Although the Eagles scored a goal next to come within one, the Pioneers finished with a 14-13 win to go 2-0 in WWPA play.
It only took 10 seconds, but the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Grantham. Although the Pioneers led 3-1 in the first quarter, BU answered with three straight goals. With 50 seconds left in the quarter, Whitworth tied the match at 4-4.
The Eagles scored the first two goals of the second quarter, three of the first four in the second for an 8-6 lead, but with the extra attacker twice late in the half, the Pioneers scored a pair of power play goals, one from
Alex Andrist and the tying goal from
Bailey Barlow, as both teams went into halftime even at 8-8.
Like the first two quarters, the third was even as well in goals. Biola scored two goals, but the Pioneers answered with two of their own, one from Ingrid Rubio Miro and the tying goal by Barlow for a 10-10 score heading into the final frame.
Both teams traded two goals each to the 4:04 mark of regulation to be even at 12-12. With 2:18 left in the match, Grantham scored the go-ahead goal to give CSUEB the lead. Whitworth scored a crucial goal with 40 seconds left for a 14-12 lead. The goal was crucial because Mattie Herzog brought the Eagles within one with 24 seconds left. The Pioneers though, held on for the 14-13 win.
- Grantham, Barlow and Andrist scored three goals each on Friday.
- With two goals and three assists was Luna Sarmiento.
- Andrist also had a pair of assists.
- Drawing two exclusions each were Lola Gill and Barlow.
- Daniela Passoni had an outstanding performance in net for the Pioneers, with 21 saves and four steals.
Cal State East Bay head coach
Lisa Cooper following Friday's WWPA win:
"I think we played a very disciplined game both offensively and defensively. We did a really good job controlling the ball on our offense. We were very patient and waited for the right opportunities to develop. We played with intensity for four quarters and had great communication on both sides of the pool."
Cal State East Bay: 10-10, 2-0 WWPA
Biola: 7-15, 1-1 WWPA
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
On Saturday, the Pioneers host Santa Clara, which will be the second of four straight home matches. Opening sprint against the Broncos is set for 1 p.m. In the season opener on February 3, Cal State East Bay defeated Santa Clara, 11-8 in the Stanford Invitational.
