Saturday, April 30
San Diego, Calif.
1:30 PM
California Baptist University
8
vs
12
Pacific
Photo by: Andrew Shortall
Another Tangle with the Tigers
4/30/2016 3:41:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
BOX SCORE
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – It was bound to be a battle when California Baptist University and Pacific squared off in the Golden Coast Conference Tournament semifinals after playing to a one-goal decision a less than a month earlier.
Despite coming in as a big underdog, the 23rd-ranked and third-seeded Lancers fought up until the very end with the 16th-ranked and No. 2 seed Tigers in a 12-8 loss Saturday afternoon at San Diego State's Aztec Aquatic Complex. Pacific just escaped the Lancer Aquatic Center with a 10-9 win back on April 2nd.
CBU's season concludes Sunday, as it will look to achieve its highest-ever finish in the GCC in the tournament's third-place game against Loyola Marymount at 1:00 p.m. The Lancers (22-11) will also look to build on their program-high 22 wins they've already achieved in the NCAA era, which began in 2014.
There was a bit of bad luck in play for CBU on Saturday, as it had five shots just hit off the post in the second half. Two nearly crossed the goal line before being scooped up by the defense, which had they gone in, would have made it a different game.
Balance continued to be a theme for the Lancers, as their shooters came out aggressive. Hannah Evans, the newly-named GCC Player of the Year, led the team with two goals and two steals, but six other players scored in the game.
Samantha Banks and Courtney Menard each scored and chipped in two assists, with Menard producing a steal, as well. Laura Kocsis added a goal, assist and steal for CBU.
After falling into a four-goal deficit, 6-2, with 21 minutes to play in the game, the Lancers showed a ton of heart to fight back with two goals on several occasions. Banks scored on a beautiful lob shot, which was assisted by Kocsis, with 2:10 to play in the first half to make it a 6-3 deficit.
Out of the break, Kaitlyn Persky scored on a backhand after Menard stole the ball away on a clever, quick grab. It kept CBU within three goals one minute, 10 seconds into the third quarter. Forty-five seconds later, Evans powered home a transition goal with a defender on her back to make it a two-goal deficit, 7-5, with 6:05 left in the third.
For every Lancer goal, there seemed to be an answer from the Tigers. Valerie Spezzaferri rattled home a long-distance shot off a Menard dish with 2:16 remaining in the third, and then Jessica Castellano scored from deep with 52 seconds to go. Each time Pacific answered back to keep it a three-goal game, 10-7, going into the fourth quarter.
Menard kept hope alive when she scored just 46 seconds into the fourth off Paizlee Dreyer's second assist, but the Tigers scored the next two goals and then killed clock the rest of the way.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – It was bound to be a battle when California Baptist University and Pacific squared off in the Golden Coast Conference Tournament semifinals after playing to a one-goal decision a less than a month earlier.
Despite coming in as a big underdog, the 23rd-ranked and third-seeded Lancers fought up until the very end with the 16th-ranked and No. 2 seed Tigers in a 12-8 loss Saturday afternoon at San Diego State's Aztec Aquatic Complex. Pacific just escaped the Lancer Aquatic Center with a 10-9 win back on April 2nd.
CBU's season concludes Sunday, as it will look to achieve its highest-ever finish in the GCC in the tournament's third-place game against Loyola Marymount at 1:00 p.m. The Lancers (22-11) will also look to build on their program-high 22 wins they've already achieved in the NCAA era, which began in 2014.
There was a bit of bad luck in play for CBU on Saturday, as it had five shots just hit off the post in the second half. Two nearly crossed the goal line before being scooped up by the defense, which had they gone in, would have made it a different game.
Balance continued to be a theme for the Lancers, as their shooters came out aggressive. Hannah Evans, the newly-named GCC Player of the Year, led the team with two goals and two steals, but six other players scored in the game.
Samantha Banks and Courtney Menard each scored and chipped in two assists, with Menard producing a steal, as well. Laura Kocsis added a goal, assist and steal for CBU.
After falling into a four-goal deficit, 6-2, with 21 minutes to play in the game, the Lancers showed a ton of heart to fight back with two goals on several occasions. Banks scored on a beautiful lob shot, which was assisted by Kocsis, with 2:10 to play in the first half to make it a 6-3 deficit.
Out of the break, Kaitlyn Persky scored on a backhand after Menard stole the ball away on a clever, quick grab. It kept CBU within three goals one minute, 10 seconds into the third quarter. Forty-five seconds later, Evans powered home a transition goal with a defender on her back to make it a two-goal deficit, 7-5, with 6:05 left in the third.
For every Lancer goal, there seemed to be an answer from the Tigers. Valerie Spezzaferri rattled home a long-distance shot off a Menard dish with 2:16 remaining in the third, and then Jessica Castellano scored from deep with 52 seconds to go. Each time Pacific answered back to keep it a three-goal game, 10-7, going into the fourth quarter.
Menard kept hope alive when she scored just 46 seconds into the fourth off Paizlee Dreyer's second assist, but the Tigers scored the next two goals and then killed clock the rest of the way.
Players Mentioned
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
2MD
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water PoloCalifornia Baptist WWP vs Azusa Pacific University
Wednesday, January 08
California Baptist WWP vs Fresno State
Wednesday, January 08
California Baptist WWP vs University of the Pacific
Wednesday, January 08
California Baptist WWP vs CSUN
Wednesday, January 08
