Friday, March 24
Riverside, Calif.
4:00 PM
California Baptist University
8
vs
9
San Diego State
Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez
Aztecs Escape in Conference Opener
3/24/2017 7:03:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Despite a tremendous battle, No. 25-ranked California Baptist University fell to No. 12-ranked San Diego State University Friday afternoon in CBU's conference opener. The Aztecs escaped with a 9-8 win in what could be considered the most exciting game the Lancers have played so far this season.
CBU drops to 14-9 overall and open Golden Coast Conference action with a 0-1 mark, while SDSU improves to 12-9, 3-0 in the GCC on the season.
"I thought this was our most successful game despite the loss. We started strong and finished strong, while playing as a team the entire way. It always hurts to take an L, but I am so proud of our team," said junior driver Annie Eubanks.
Eubanks, along with Valerie Spezzaferri, Pua Wong, Paizlee Dreyer, and Jessica Castellano, all notched a goal apiece, while sophomore Lizette Perez led the Lancers with three goals, one assist, and two steals. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Lina Medeiros backed the Lancer defense with an impressive 14 saves and three steals.
It was apparent that the Lancers came prepared to fight and immediately put pressure on the Aztecs as soon as the whistle was blown.
Spezzaferri won the opening sprint, but SDSU quickly recovered and took a shot on even strength within the first minute of play. Medeiros grabbed a save and found Eubanks on the opposite side of the pool, who netted a goal on the counterattack to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
SDSU responded with a power-play goal just under the six-minute mark to tie the game at 1-1, but two even-strength goals from Spezzaferri and Perez gave the Lancers a 3-1 cushion with a minute remaining in the first.
The Aztecs would not give in yet, however, and found the back of the cage in the final minute to close the gap to 3-2. CBU answered with a long pass from Medeiros to Wong to grab a goal and make it 4-2 with 38 seconds remaining. SDSU was able to score on a power play buzzer beater to make the game an interesting, 4-3, after one quarter of play.
Much like the first, the second quarter had a lot of aggressive, back-and-forth play. Eubanks found Perez on a cross-cage pass to give the Lancers a 5-3 lead, which was quickly followed by an unassisted breakaway goal from Dreyer, putting the Lancers up 6-3.
The Aztecs pushed the pressure around the 3:40 mark, but four saves in a row from Medeiros proved the Lancers were there to play as well. It took a power play goal with 1:41 remaining for SDSU to finally score and end the first half trailing by two, 6-4.
SDSU came out on fire in the second half and quickly scored two goals in the third to tie the game at 6-6.
A momentum changing save from Medeiros gave the Lancers a much-needed spark, and Medeiros was able to find Perez down the pool for a goal to regain the lead 7-6. SDSU ended the third with an even-strength goal to make it 7-7, meaning it would all come down to the fourth and final quarter of play.
The Lancers fought hard until the end, but unfortunately the Aztecs outscored the Lancers 2-1 in the fourth, and escaped with a nail-biting 9-8 win over CBU.
"These games require so much heart because obviously it's about who wants it more," said Eubanks. "We just jumped on a No. 12 team and almost came out with a win. I think we just need to focus on finishing and we will definitely bounce back from this."
CBU continues conference play on the road at Fresno Pacific on March 31st before heading to the University of Pacific the next day.
CBU drops to 14-9 overall and open Golden Coast Conference action with a 0-1 mark, while SDSU improves to 12-9, 3-0 in the GCC on the season.
"I thought this was our most successful game despite the loss. We started strong and finished strong, while playing as a team the entire way. It always hurts to take an L, but I am so proud of our team," said junior driver Annie Eubanks.
Eubanks, along with Valerie Spezzaferri, Pua Wong, Paizlee Dreyer, and Jessica Castellano, all notched a goal apiece, while sophomore Lizette Perez led the Lancers with three goals, one assist, and two steals. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Lina Medeiros backed the Lancer defense with an impressive 14 saves and three steals.
It was apparent that the Lancers came prepared to fight and immediately put pressure on the Aztecs as soon as the whistle was blown.
Spezzaferri won the opening sprint, but SDSU quickly recovered and took a shot on even strength within the first minute of play. Medeiros grabbed a save and found Eubanks on the opposite side of the pool, who netted a goal on the counterattack to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
SDSU responded with a power-play goal just under the six-minute mark to tie the game at 1-1, but two even-strength goals from Spezzaferri and Perez gave the Lancers a 3-1 cushion with a minute remaining in the first.
The Aztecs would not give in yet, however, and found the back of the cage in the final minute to close the gap to 3-2. CBU answered with a long pass from Medeiros to Wong to grab a goal and make it 4-2 with 38 seconds remaining. SDSU was able to score on a power play buzzer beater to make the game an interesting, 4-3, after one quarter of play.
Much like the first, the second quarter had a lot of aggressive, back-and-forth play. Eubanks found Perez on a cross-cage pass to give the Lancers a 5-3 lead, which was quickly followed by an unassisted breakaway goal from Dreyer, putting the Lancers up 6-3.
The Aztecs pushed the pressure around the 3:40 mark, but four saves in a row from Medeiros proved the Lancers were there to play as well. It took a power play goal with 1:41 remaining for SDSU to finally score and end the first half trailing by two, 6-4.
SDSU came out on fire in the second half and quickly scored two goals in the third to tie the game at 6-6.
A momentum changing save from Medeiros gave the Lancers a much-needed spark, and Medeiros was able to find Perez down the pool for a goal to regain the lead 7-6. SDSU ended the third with an even-strength goal to make it 7-7, meaning it would all come down to the fourth and final quarter of play.
The Lancers fought hard until the end, but unfortunately the Aztecs outscored the Lancers 2-1 in the fourth, and escaped with a nail-biting 9-8 win over CBU.
"These games require so much heart because obviously it's about who wants it more," said Eubanks. "We just jumped on a No. 12 team and almost came out with a win. I think we just need to focus on finishing and we will definitely bounce back from this."
CBU continues conference play on the road at Fresno Pacific on March 31st before heading to the University of Pacific the next day.
Players Mentioned
2MD
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
California 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
