SHOTS RAINEING IN

Friday, February 13

Riverside

12:00 PM

California Baptist University

Redlands

Photo by: Leigh Ann Lindsey

2/13/2015 8:08:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

By: Maribel Ramirez, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — California Baptist Univeristy settled for a split on the day Friday afternoon, grabbing a 13-2 win over University of Redlands, but falling 14-3 to No. 3-ranked USC.

Game One: CBU 13, UR 2

The Lancers broke open in their first match of the day against the Bulldogs from the very first sprint, thanks to Jessica Castellano winning. Within the first four minutes of the match, CBU scored four goals. Paizlee Dreyer — who scored the first goal — Hannah Evans, Raine Paul and Kaitlyn Persky each got in on the action to help the Lancers take a sizable 4-0 lead.

CBU's most productive period came in the second period as it rattled in seven goals. Within the first two-minutes of the frame, Evans scored goals back-to-back goals to keep the shots raining in. Moments later Valerie Spezzaferri, Castellano, Paul, and Mallory Montano each scored a goal to push the Lancers further in front, 10-0. With a minute remaining in the period, the Bulldogs manage to score twice, but found themselves in a big hole, trailing 10-2.

As if it couldn't get any better for the Lancers, Persky added another goal with .41 seconds remaining to put the score out of reach, 11-2, at halftime.

"It was nice to go deep in the bench and get everybody good minutes," said head coach Jon Miller. "The effort from everybody was good. When the younger players got in, they knew exactly what they were doing and they played confident."

CBU increased its lead to 13-2 in the third period and Evans and Paul put it away in the fourth to give the home team the 13-2 victory.

Game Two: #3 USC 14, CBU 3

Despite looking to keep momentum in the nightcap, the Lancers fell behind early and struggled to recover as the Trojans took control in the first period and never let go. Evans scored the first goal in the second period, but USC had already established a 4-1 lead.

The Lancers netted two more goals in the third and fourth quarter, but couldn't overcome the Trojans. Dreyer scored a goal on exclusion while Spezzaferri scored the last goal with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth, but it wasn't enough to overpower the Trojans as CBU fell 14-3.

"We were really happy with the second game," said Miller. "We got a lot of opportunities that we missed, but to be able to be at 6-1 in the half with them, play consistently in four quarters and have looks at the cage, was a huge improvement from the first time we played them."

CBU hosts the Lancer Mini Invite #2 on Saturday at the Lancers Aquatics Center, beginning at 9 a.m.