Saturday, January 19
Santa Barbara, Calif.
8:30 AM
California Baptist University
10
vs
8
CSUN
Photo by: Andrew Shortall
CBU Upsets #18 CSUN for First Win
1/19/2019 2:32:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Win one of the 2019 season was a big one for 24th-ranked California Baptist University, as it upset No. 18 CSUN 10-8 on Saturday morning at UC Santa Barbara's Winter Invite.
It was a wild ride of momentum, as CBU led by five in the first half before CSUN came back to tie the score with 2:39 to play. The Lancers didn't flinch and ended the game on a 2-0 run to lock up their first victory of the year.
CBU also secured its 12th win over a top-25 ranked team since it became a fully-fledged NCAA member in 2014. It is the Lancers' fifth-ever win over a top-18 opponent since 2011, with its 11-10 win over then No. 15 CSUN on Feb. 1 2014 standing as its biggest upset.
"It showed a lot of grit," Coach Jon Miller said of the win. "Today, we came out and had a great first half. We kept our composure in the second half when they made their push, and played good defense and got three scores in the fourth to get the win. That's big growth to see in one day, it's all positives going forward."
After four games versus top-18 ranked teams, CBU starts the year 1-3 after falling to No. 3 UCLA 17-8 Saturday afternoon. Those eight goals were tied for the most any CBU team has ever scored against a top-three ranked team, with its eight goals against No. 3 Cal on opening day of 2011 being the only other time it has done so.
CSUN moves to 1-2 on the season and UCLA improves to 3-0.
Kira O'Donell scored five goals on just eight shots, assisted on three other scores and drew two ejections in the win. Ball movement was also key to CBU's win over CSUN, as nine of its 10 goals came on assists.
"We were moving the ball well and we were able to put enough goals away," Miller said. "Ball movement really got our offense going."
Krista Krantz had two assists and Katie Fugit had two goals, while Katie Quon had a goal and assist. Grace Ramirez anchored the defense with six saves and five steals in the cage for CBU.
"Grace did a good job making some big plays in the third quarter to keep us in front throughout the game," Miller said.
The Lancers used a 6-0 run to take a 7-2 lead over CSUN with 2:52 left in the first half. O'Donell scored four of those goals over a span of four minutes and six seconds, while Jamie Hutton and Maddie Meza also contributed.
"When she gets into a rhythm she's one of the top offensive players in the conference," Miller said of O'Donell. "It was a big momentum builder for us having her getting those first couple, and to see her shooting at that high of a percentage is even better."
CSUN scored with 22 seconds left in the second quarter and then won the third to make it just a two-goal deficit (7-5) going into the fourth quarter.
Fugit gave CBU a shot of momentum with a goal from the perimeter 1:10 into the fourth quarter. The Matadors then rattled off three-straight goals to tie the game with 2:39 remaining.
"They're a good team so we knew they were to make a push," Miller said. "We had a starter foul out, but we had other players step up and do a good job. Whenever a team like that makes a run, you just want to keep your cool and put yourself in a position to win in the end."
CBU did just that, as Quon put the Lancers back in front, 9-8, with a big-time goal with 1:54 to play. Quon then came up with a crucial steal at the other end to give the Lancers the ball back with 38 seconds left.
CBU called timeout and drew up a play, but had to scrap it once when the Matadors sent their goalie out of the cage looking to force a steal. The ball found its way to O'Donell, who calmly lobbed the ball into the open cage to give CBU the insurance goal, up 10-8 with 27 seconds to go.
"I thought we did a really good job of finishing out possessions in the fourth quarter, especially when it got tight," Miller said. "We didn't do everything perfectly but we hustled and got back on defense to limit their possessions in the fourth quarter."
Perez had three goals against UCLA, while Madison East, Madison Gonzales, Amy Branch, Maddie Schwegler and Hutton also had goals.
It was a wild ride of momentum, as CBU led by five in the first half before CSUN came back to tie the score with 2:39 to play. The Lancers didn't flinch and ended the game on a 2-0 run to lock up their first victory of the year.
CBU also secured its 12th win over a top-25 ranked team since it became a fully-fledged NCAA member in 2014. It is the Lancers' fifth-ever win over a top-18 opponent since 2011, with its 11-10 win over then No. 15 CSUN on Feb. 1 2014 standing as its biggest upset.
"It showed a lot of grit," Coach Jon Miller said of the win. "Today, we came out and had a great first half. We kept our composure in the second half when they made their push, and played good defense and got three scores in the fourth to get the win. That's big growth to see in one day, it's all positives going forward."
After four games versus top-18 ranked teams, CBU starts the year 1-3 after falling to No. 3 UCLA 17-8 Saturday afternoon. Those eight goals were tied for the most any CBU team has ever scored against a top-three ranked team, with its eight goals against No. 3 Cal on opening day of 2011 being the only other time it has done so.
CSUN moves to 1-2 on the season and UCLA improves to 3-0.
Kira O'Donell scored five goals on just eight shots, assisted on three other scores and drew two ejections in the win. Ball movement was also key to CBU's win over CSUN, as nine of its 10 goals came on assists.
"We were moving the ball well and we were able to put enough goals away," Miller said. "Ball movement really got our offense going."
Krista Krantz had two assists and Katie Fugit had two goals, while Katie Quon had a goal and assist. Grace Ramirez anchored the defense with six saves and five steals in the cage for CBU.
"Grace did a good job making some big plays in the third quarter to keep us in front throughout the game," Miller said.
The Lancers used a 6-0 run to take a 7-2 lead over CSUN with 2:52 left in the first half. O'Donell scored four of those goals over a span of four minutes and six seconds, while Jamie Hutton and Maddie Meza also contributed.
"When she gets into a rhythm she's one of the top offensive players in the conference," Miller said of O'Donell. "It was a big momentum builder for us having her getting those first couple, and to see her shooting at that high of a percentage is even better."
CSUN scored with 22 seconds left in the second quarter and then won the third to make it just a two-goal deficit (7-5) going into the fourth quarter.
Fugit gave CBU a shot of momentum with a goal from the perimeter 1:10 into the fourth quarter. The Matadors then rattled off three-straight goals to tie the game with 2:39 remaining.
"They're a good team so we knew they were to make a push," Miller said. "We had a starter foul out, but we had other players step up and do a good job. Whenever a team like that makes a run, you just want to keep your cool and put yourself in a position to win in the end."
CBU did just that, as Quon put the Lancers back in front, 9-8, with a big-time goal with 1:54 to play. Quon then came up with a crucial steal at the other end to give the Lancers the ball back with 38 seconds left.
CBU called timeout and drew up a play, but had to scrap it once when the Matadors sent their goalie out of the cage looking to force a steal. The ball found its way to O'Donell, who calmly lobbed the ball into the open cage to give CBU the insurance goal, up 10-8 with 27 seconds to go.
"I thought we did a really good job of finishing out possessions in the fourth quarter, especially when it got tight," Miller said. "We didn't do everything perfectly but we hustled and got back on defense to limit their possessions in the fourth quarter."
Perez had three goals against UCLA, while Madison East, Madison Gonzales, Amy Branch, Maddie Schwegler and Hutton also had goals.
Players Mentioned
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
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