CBU Battles Top-Seeded Fresno State in First-Ever Home GCC Championship Game

Friday, April 22

Riverside, Calif.

4 PM

California Baptist University

12-17

Fresno State

17-7

California Baptist

Fresno State

CBU Battles Top-Seeded Fresno State in First-Ever Home GCC Championship Game

4/22/2022 6:20:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE – For the first time ever, California Baptist University women's water polo played a Golden Coast Conference Championship game in its home pool.

The Lancers drew the top seed and eighth-ranked Fresno State in the opening round Friday at the Lancer Aquatics Center. CBU matched the Bulldogs goal-for-goal in the second half, but could not hold off eighth-ranked FSU in a 14-8 loss.

Kira O'Donell skips it home and has now scored in 27-straight games!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/LPdiBqCrAd
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) April 22, 2022

Kira O'Donell posted a team-high five points on four assists and a goal. She's now scored in 27-straight games for the Lancers. Vicky Martinez led CBU with two goals, while Ava Ratajvzak had a strong second half in the cage, as she had four saves, including a penalty shot and one-on-none chance.

THAT SENIOR-SENIOR CONNECTION 🙌

Kira O'Donell sets up the second goal of the game for Vicky Martinez.#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/n8xi2l95Xe
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) April 22, 2022

Ratajczak blocked half of the shots she faced and helped the Lancers match Fresno State's four goals over the final 16 minutes. Fresno State extends its winning streak to seven games and improves to 17-7 on the year and CBU moves to 12-17.

AVA RATAJCZAK WITH THE BLOCK ON THE FIVE METER, SHE'S A WALL IN THE CAGE 🙅‍♀️#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/xfRD5qJfHw
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) April 23, 2022

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Fresno State opened the game on a 3-0 run in the opening , but CBU responded with a 3-1 run to make it a one-goal game, 4-3, with 1:29 left in the first quarter. Morgan Baker scored the Lancers' first goal of the game, while Dora Lehoczky and O'Donell also scored in the opening quarter.

DORA LEHOCZKY WITH THE PERFECT PLACEMENT 👌#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/htMKDQDIYN
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) April 22, 2022

The Bulldogs took a 10-4 lead into halftime after they scored six consecutive goals. There was no quit from CBU, though, as Martinez scored back-to-back goals to give the Lancers a boost. California Baptist ended the final 10 minutes, 37 seconds on a 4-3 run after goals from Martinez, Kyndall Burrell, Maddie Schwegler and Jamie Hutton.

YOU LOVE TO SEE THIS KINDA BALL MOVEMENT 😍😍😍

Kyndall Burrell gets on the board off the Taylor Frandsen assist on the powerplay.#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/1GgZhv10OY
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) April 23, 2022

UP NEXT
CBU will face seventh-seeded Concordia for in the GCC Championship seventh-place game on Saturday, April 23, at 10 a.m. It will be the final game of the season for both squads.