BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Two close WWPA conference games ended in a split Saturday for the No. 17 CSUB water polo team in day two of the Roadrunner Invitational at the Hillman Aquatics Center. CSUB (6–9 overall, 2–1 WWPA) pulled back from a four–goal deficit to stun Colorado State 10–9 but fell in overtime to Cal State East Bay in the second game also by a score of 10–9.
The Roadrunners fell behind 6–2 midway through the second quarter against the Rams in the first contest. But a five–meter ejection and an ensuing goal on the penalty shot from sophomore Kaitlin Torres pulled CSUB back to within two, 7–5, midway through the third quarter. After that, the 'Runners would score three of the next four goals to tie the game at 8–8. With the game knotted up again at 9–9 with 2:36 remaining, senior Becky Seelos tapped in the game winner with 2:02 remaining off a nice lob pass in front of the cage. Torres finished with four goals while classmate Malia Pahoa had three. Senior Alyson Moss had a pair with both coming in the second quarter which sparked the comeback. Seelos' lone goal was the game–winning tally. In net, freshman Megan Pezzolla had three blocks while playing the first and fourth quarters. Sophomore Megan Wetherbee tallied two blocks in the second and third quarters.
Against Cal State East Bay, CSUB trailed for the most of the first half, falling behind by as many as two, 4–2, early in the second quarter. But things changed after a Moss goal and Pezzolla stepped up to block a five-meter penalty shot. The 'Runners would go on to score two more goals to take a 5–4 lead in the third quarter. But the Pioneers responded and took a lead, 7–6, with 4:55 left to play. This time it was senior C.J. Longeuay's turn to hit the clutch shot as she found the back of the net for her only goal of the day, tying the game, 7–7, with 2:53 left to go. In overtime, Torres would score both of her goals in the second segment but East Bay had already built a two–goal cushion after the first overtime session. East Bay would add what proved to be the game winner with just 51 seconds remaining in the second overtime session, going up 10–8 before Torres added her second goal. Freshman Sam Shead had two goals as did Moss. Freshman Brittani Marquez and Seelos each had one to go along with Longeuay's strike and Torres' two overtime goals.
The Roadrunner Invitational concludes tomorrow as CSUB faces off against Cal State Monterey Bay at 11:50 a.m. followed by a 4:10 p.m. showdown with No. 13 Cal State Northridge.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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Final
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Colorado State
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4
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2
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2
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1 |
9
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No. 17 CSU Bakersfield
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2
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3
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1
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4
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10
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Goals:
CSUB - Alyson Moss (2), Malia Pahoa (3), Becky Seelos (1), Kaitlin Torres (4).
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1
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2
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3
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4
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OT |
OT2 |
Final
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Cal State East Bay
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3
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1
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1
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2
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2 |
1 |
10
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No. 17 CSU Bakersfield
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2
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1
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3
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1
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0 |
2 |
9
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Goals:
CSUB - Alyson Moss (2), Becky Seelos (1), C.J. Longeuay (1), Brittani Marquez (1), Sam Shead (2), Kaitlin Torres (2).
