California Baptist University
University of Hawaii
Hanging With The Toughest
4/15/2012 3:01:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
TEMPE, Ariz. --- For the second straight weekend, No. 17 California Baptist University battled against higher ranked opponents for tough losses to No. 4 Arizona State and No. 16 Hawaii.
In the earlier game, the Lancers got to within one of UH midway through the fourth quarter but could not complete the comeback and lost 9-7.
In a 2-0 hole, Tania Acavedo scored at 2:20 left in the opening quarter to put CBU on the board. The Rainbow Wahine once again led by two before Laura Kocsis put one past the goalie at 2:01 left in the half. Following a UH exclusion and timeout from Head Coach Jacob Medina, Acavedo notched her second goal with 1:12 remaining to even the score at three-all.
Late defensive mistakes by CBU resulted on a 6-on-5 goal for Hawaii with 54 seconds left and a made shot at seven seconds to give the Lancers a 5-3 deficit at the half.
Less than a minute in, Petra Kovacs found the back of the net to pull one-back but another 6-on-5 goal for the Rainbow Wahine awarded them the 6-4 lead at 6:37. Kovacs scored again after the UH exclusion and Christina (Webb) Young tied the game at 6-6- at 4:25.
Down two goals with five minutes left, Kovacs completed her hat-trick to put CBU down just one but the Lancers could not produce any for offense in the remaining time.
Freshman Leticia Perez was placed into the cage during the first quarter. She tallied six saves.
Despite a phenomenal first quarter against No. 4 ASU, CBU struggled to score and stop the Sun Devils, resulting in a 12-4 loss.
Down by a goal less than 40 seconds in, CBU answered quickly with a goal from Kovacs at 7:03 in the first quarter. The Lancers even took the lead against ASU after Mallory Montano scored on the 6-on-5 opportunity at 6:06.
ASU scored two straight, but Kovacs penalty goal with 28 seconds tied the score at 3-3.
Bright spots for CBU were seldom after that, as the Lancers were outscored 9-1 for the last three quarters.
Young scored in the third quarter for CBU's fourth goal.
Freshman Perez got the start and recorded nine saves.
Now at 20-11, CBU has one remaining weekend of play as they head to Fresno on April 20 and 21 for the National Invite hosted by Fresno Pacific.
