California Baptist University
Vanguard University (Calif.)
Offense From Every One
2/18/2012 3:50:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Starting off the day on offensive fire and finishing it with a big mid-game goal push, California Baptist University knocked off both Pacific and Vanguard for the Lancers' first win streak of 2012. In both matches, at least 8 different Lancers scored to make for CBU's biggest scoring day to date.
In the nightcap, CBU used a 9-4 run in the second and third quarters to outlast the Tigers after the teams were even with one goal apiece at the end of the first eight minutes.
"The one thing I was most proud of was the amount of contribution we had in this game," Head Coach Jacob Medina said. "It is one of those coaches things to say 'every one contributed,' but really everyone contributed today and every one had a big part in getting us the win, especially against a team that we have had one-goal game losses to for the last two years. It's nice to come out and take care of it."
CBU fell to the Tigers 8-7 in 2011.
Petra Kovacs added another four-goal game to her season stats, including three in the third quarter. Two of Kovacs' scores were also successfully converted penalty shots.
Despite the onslaught of offensive, CBU also had a strong defensive showing, starting with goalkeeper Camryn Rogers. Rogers had 14 saves, including a blocked penalty shot.
"She's kind of had a little bit of a slow start this season," Medina said of the CBU career record holder in saves. "She obviously holds every record here at CBU. She's starting to come along and I think she's been getting back into game-type shape and quickness. Today was proof. She was making blocks and getting to those corners and getting the ball up the pool, which is big for us."
The Lancers also held the Tigers to just one goal in six 6-on-5 opportunities.
Molly Gritchen was the first Lancer on the board, scoring at 2:45 remaining in the first quarter. She also found the back of the net a second time in the fourth quarter.
Pacific matched goals from Briana Tryon and Mallory Montano for a 3-3 tie with 2:07 left in the first half. CBU led the rest of the game, following the final go-ahead goal from Christina Webb at 1:24 and then Kovacs' first goal with 15 seconds left.
Besides Kovacs' hat-trick, Tania Acavedo and Nicole Berry also found the back of the net in the third quarter.
CBU sealed the game with fourth quarter goals from Raine Paul and another each from Gritchen and Berry.
"I think if we play like that, we are going to have a lot of nice big wins for us for the rest of the year," Medina said. "We are just starting to click offensively and we are doing what we want to do. It started at UCLA but it is nice to have a win like that against a team like U of P that we are always compared to."
In the morning game, CBU overpowered visiting Vanguard and cruised to a 17-3 win, beginning with a dominant first quarter.
In a full team effort, nine different Lancers scored in the match.
The Lancers worked their way up to a 5-0 shutout before the Lions were able to notch a goal on the scoreboard. Both Kim Latschaw and Laura Kocsis scored twice in the first eight minutes. Tryon and Doris Tran also scored their first goals of the season in CBU's 6-2 first quarter run.
Gritchen and Rebecca Hearon also scored their first goals of 2012. Both Gritchen and Webb scored doubles in the fourth quarter. One of Webb's goals included an up-the-pool pass from goalkeeper Rogers.
Kocsis also tallied another goal in the fourth while Latschaw used two third quarter goals to bring her scoring total to four.
Kovacs also added one off a 5M penalty shot in the second quarter. Paul and Acevedo also scored fourth quarter goals.
Freshman goalkeeper Leticia Perez tallied two saves in her first start against Vanguard.
Now at 3-5, CBU takes on No. 2 USC at 10:20 on Saturday morning in the Lancer Aquatics Center.
