California Baptist University
Santa Clara
Third-Quarter Run Leads CBU to Win in GCC Opener
3/8/2019 5:29:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Facing a two-goal deficit with 14 minutes left, California Baptist University exploded on a six-goal run to pick up an 8-6 win over Santa Clara in its Golden Coast Conference opener at the Lancer Aquatics Center on Friday afternoon.
Madison East, Madison Gonzales and Kira O'Donell all scored twice in the win, with East proving to be crucial to the win with a hand in three-straight goals for CBU in the third quarter. Defense continued to be central to the success of the 23rd-ranked Lancers. Grace Ramirez was spectacular with 14 saves and a steal. CBU is holding opponents ranked outside the top-10 to just 8.4 goals a game this year.
It moved CBU's record to 11-9 and 1-0 in the GCC, while Santa Clara falls to 4-10, 0-1. CBU plays two more home games on Saturday in the Lancer Joust, with 19th-ranked San Jose State visiting for a 9 a.m. first sprint. CBU will then face Concordia in a non-conference game at 3 p.m.
It was clear from the very beginning that Friday was going to be a defensive struggle. Gonzales got the Lancers on the board first almost four minutes into the game when she took a pass from Perez and buried it.
CBU strikes first on this goal from Madison Gonzales, with Lizette Perez picking up the assist. The Lancers lead 1-0 four minutes into the first quarter.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/cPc80bvV9L
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) March 8, 2019
Santa Clara scored the next two goals, but Perez scored with a 1:45 left in the first half to tie things at 2-2. The Broncos snuck in front again, 3-2, with a goal at the 1:09 mark of the second quarter and then took the first multi-goal lead of the game, 4-2, two minutes into the third.
Lizette Perez draws an ordinary foul and then scores on a great shot to the top corner to tie the game at 2-2 momentarily for CBU.
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) March 8, 2019
Santa Clara answers right back to take a 3-2 lead with less than a minute left in the first half.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/tRBJGEiFe5
O'Donell gave CBU a huge shot of momentum with her first goal 65 seconds later off a Krista Krantz assist. The Lancers scored on their next three possessions, with East having a hand in each one.
A steal from Gonzales on the ensuing possession put the Lancers on the counterattack, and East netted her first goal of the game to tie things at 4-4 with 4:44 left in the third. East scored on CBU's very next possession after an offensive foul from the Broncos to give the Lancers their first lead, 5-4, since the first goal of the game.
Madison East scores her second goal in a row to give CBU a 5-4 lead, the Lancers' first lead since the first quarter. #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/co6P9hFpFB
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) March 8, 2019
East then assisted on O'Donell's second goal to give CBU a 6-4 lead with 2:24 left in the third quarter.
Kira O'Donell takes a pass from Madison East and fires it home! The Lancers take their first multi-goal lead, 6-4, as East has a hand in the last three goals for CBU. The Lancers take that same lead into the fourth quarter.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/nYGnrTxAGt
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) March 8, 2019
The Lancers took that lead into the fourth and Krantz won that opening sprint. It set up Gonzales' second goal of the contest that made it 7-4 only 17 seconds into the quarter.
An offense foul from Santa Clara put CBU back on the counterattack. Krantz then scored with a bar-in goal at the near post to give the Lancers an 8-4 lead with 7:15 remaining.
Santa Clara broke a scoring drought that last 13 minutes and 25 seconds, with a goal at the 2:52 mark to make it 8-5. The Broncos scored again with 1:17 to play to cap the scoring at 8-6.
