California Baptist University
Santa Clara
Lancers' Balance, Defense Bucks Broncos
4/27/2019 2:02:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – A complete team effort led California Baptist University to an 8-5 win over Santa Clara on day two of the Golden Coast Conference Championships on Saturday.
Balanced offense and a formidable defense led the 25th-ranked and sixth-seeded Lancers to the three-goal win over the seventh-seeded Broncos at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
Three multi-goal games highlighted CBU's offense, with Katie Fugit netting a hat trick and Lizette Perez and Kira O'Donell scoring two each. Defensively, the Lancers played strong as a unit and got a terrific game from Grace Ramirez, who finished with 12 saves and three steals in the cage.
Hat trick for Katie Fugit! Her third goal gives CBU its largest lead of the game, 7-3, on this powerplay goal with about six minutes left in regulation.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/tRJllK9HHY
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 27, 2019
After ending the first quarter tied at 1-1, CBU used a 4-1 run through the second quarter to take a 5-2 lead at halftime.
It was a defensive game throughout, with Perez scoring the first goal of the day more than six minutes into the contest. Santa Clara took its only lead, 2-1, about two-and-a-half minutes into the second quarter.
Lizette Perez gets CBU on the board first, with this goal coming off a drawn ejection in transition after a big save from Grace Ramirez. Santa Clara answers back and its 1-1 after the first quarter.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/h5mOLevS5q
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 27, 2019
The Lancers then erupted for four goals over the final 4:29 of the second quarter to take a 5-2 advantage. Both Fugit and O'Donell combined for two goals in the rally.
O'Donell got the run started with a steal and then a goal, which came off an assist from Madison Gonzales at center.
Madison Gonzales kicks the ball out from center, and Kira O'Donell beats the goalie to the far post to this game at 2-2. #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/eJ7kzds0eh
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 27, 2019
Fugit then scored two goals in a row before O'Donell got her second with a nifty lob shot to the far post with 22 seconds left in the first half.
Kira O'Donell's late first-half goal made it 5-2 going into the break. The Lancers still lead 5-2 about halfway through the third quarter.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/RGyL5i9ut9
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 27, 2019
CBU kept its streak of defensive dominance going and shutout the Broncos in the third quarter to maintain its three-goal edge.
Santa Clara looked to create some momentum when it scored on a penalty shot 15 seconds into the fourth quarter, which ended a 13 minutes, 38 second scoring drought for the Broncos.
Perez provided a big answer for the Lancers, with a goal from well outside to keep it a three-goal cushion for CBU, 6-3.
Lizette Perez scores a big goal from way outside to keep this a three-goal game, 6-3, early in the fourth quarter. Santa Clara opened the quarter with a penalty-shot goal.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/CoILOX5lZw
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 27, 2019
Fugit netted her hat trick on the next offensive possession, and then Maddie Meza (goal, assist) scored a powerplay goal to give the Lancers a commanding 8-3 lead with 5:10 remaining.
Maddie Meza makes it a five-goal CBU lead, 8-3❗️ She rises up right in front of the cage and powers home the six-on-five goal❗️The score remains 8-3 with 3:47 to play.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/gzMYIYRmbP
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 27, 2019
CBU improves to 15-17 this season and gets a rematch with 23rd-ranked and fifth-seeded Azusa Pacific (18-14) on Sunday at 11 a.m., with a fifth-place finish in the GCC on the line in the season finale for both teams.
