LA JOLLA, Calif. — After a pair of heartbreaking losses on Saturday against nationally-ranked opponents, Cal State Bakersfield's No. 19 nationally-ranked water polo squad responded with a pair of wins on Sunday to place 13th at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.
The Roadrunners opened by knocking off Maryland 10-6 before taking care of Bucknell 11-6 in the afternoon.
Bakersfield improved to 4-3 on the season with four of the Roadrunners' seven opponents being nationally-ranked opponents. Bakersfield is 1-3 against those opponents, but it has only lost those three matches by a combined seven goals.
Bakersfield opened the day against the University of Maryland at 8 a.m., and after a sleep first quarter found the Roadrunners behind by a 3-2 disadvantage, Bakesfield outscored the Terripins 3-1 in the second period for a 5-4 halftime lead. After the break it was all Bakersfield, outscoring Maryland 5-2 in the final two periods for the 10-6 win.
Newcomer Paola Medina led the Roadrunners with four goals, while Yulia Blinovskaya scored three, Amanda Ortiz scored two, and Neshmil Ariy added one.
In the second game of the day, Bakersfield jumped on Bucknell and cruised to the win. The Roadrunners led 3-1 after the first period and 7-2 at the break for the easy win.
Once again, Ortiz had a big game with four goals, while Ariy and Blinovskaya each added three goals apiece. Bori Toth also scored for Bakersfield.
The Roadrunners return to the John S. Hillman Aquatics Center on Saturday and Sunday for the Roadrunner Invitational.
No. 19 Cal State Bakersfield 10, Maryland 6
Team 1 2 3 4 Final
Maryland (0-3) 3 1 2 0 6
CS Bakersfield (3-3) 2 3 3 2 10
Goals
UM – Jackie Prine 4, Alli Russell 2, Nikki Frish, Robyn Kaake, Kat Plummer, Erin Kienne, Julia Fancher, Jessica Lewis, Sarah Frost
CSUB – Paola Medina 4, Yulia Blinovskaya 3, Amanda Ortiz 2, Neshmil Ariy
No. 19 Cal State Bakersfield 11, Bucknell 6
Team 1 2 3 4 Final
Bucknell (1-3) 1 1 3 1 6
CS Bakersfield (4-3) 3 4 2 2 11
Goals
BU – Elizabeth Hopkins 2, Bryndis Klein, Christen Vagts, Blaise Stanicic, Laurel Laidlaw
CSUB – Amanda Ortiz 4, Neshmil Ariy 3, Yulia Blinovskaya 3, Bori Toth
