BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - In the final day of the Roadrunner Invitational on Sunday at the Hillman Aquatics Center, the No. 17 CSUB water polo team picked up a WWPA conference victory over Cal State Monterey Bay but fell short in an upset bid against No. 13 Cal State Northridge. The Roadrunners (7–10 overall, 3–1 WWPA) were able to pull away from the Otters midway through the second quarter for a 10–7 victory but couldn't hold an early lead against the Matadors, falling in a close contest 6–3.
Monterey Bay tied the game 2–2 through the first quarter and pulled even again at the 2:57 mark of the second quarter at 3–3. But a pair of unanswered goals by freshman Sam Shead and sophomore Malia Pahoa gave the 'Runners a lead that it would not relinquish for the rest of the game. The Otters put up a good fight, pulling to within one late in the third and two midway through the fourth. But two late goals from sophomore Kaitlin Torres put the game away in the fourth. Torres led all scorers with four goals. Freshmen Jessica Browning and classmate Brittani Marquez each had a pair. In goal, freshman Megan Pezzolla had six blocks.
Things started off well against the Matadors. Torres scored the lone goal of the first quarter to give CSUB a 1–0 lead. In the second quarter, after Northridge tied it on a five–meter penalty; Torres again scored to give the Roadrunners a 2–1 lead. But another costly five–meter penalty against CSUB tied the game. It looked as though momentum might return to the 'Runners after Pezzolla stepped up to face another five–meter penalty later in the quarter and blocked it away but Northridge responded with a pair of totals late to take a 4–2 lead into the fourth and final quarter. Browning scored at the 6:52 mark to pull CSUB back to within one, 4–3, but the Matadors piled on two more insurance markers to seal the win. Pezzolla had a great game in goal, blocking 12 shots.
CSUB's next action is scheduled for March 6–7 when the Roadrunners head to the UC Davis Tournament. The 'Runners will take on Sonoma State (2 p.m.) and host UC Davis (6 p.m.) on Saturday followed by a marquee matchup against Stanford on Sunday at 11 a.m.
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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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Cal State Monterey Bay
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2
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1
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1
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3
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7
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No. 17 CSU Bakersfield
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2
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3
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3
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2
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10
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Goals:
CSUB - Malia Pahoa (1), Brittani Marquez (2), Sam Shead (1), Kaitlin Torres (4), Jessica Browning (2).
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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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No. 13 Cal State Northridge
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0
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1
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3
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2 |
6
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No. 17 CSU Bakersfield
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1
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1
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0
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1
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3
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Goals:
CSUB - Kaitlin Torres (2), Jessica Browning (1).
