BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The CSU Bakersfield water polo team dropped a pair of matches Sunday to go 1-3 at the UC Santa Barbara Invitational.

No. 6 Arizona State defeated the Roadrunners 15-5 in the opener. CSUB trailed 3-1 after one and when Shannon McKenzie (R-Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Rancho Cucamonga HS) scored with 4:35 to go in the second period, the Roadrunners were down only by one 4-3. The Sun Devils took advantage of several CSUB defensive mistakes that allowed Arizona State to take a 7-3 halftime lead and a 12-4 advantage after three quarters.

Five different CSUB players scored. Freshman goalie Alex Bayer (Alta Loma, Calif., Los Osos HS) made her collegiate debut, making seven saves and recording five steals.

“We made some critical defensive mistakes and Arizona State is too good of a team to make those mistakes against,” said CSUB head coach Jason Gall. “We did a lot of good things and we definitely know that we are not too far away from competing with that caliber of a team.”

No. 17 UC Santa Barbara defeated CSUB 11-4 in the Roadrunners' tournament finale. Jessica Browning (Jr., Lake Forest, Calif., Lake Toro HS) scored all four goals for the Roadrunners.  Shannon McKenzie (R-Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Rancho Cucamonga HS) recorded two assists. Bayer made six saves and five steals.

“The effort and intensity is there,” Gall said. “We are making too many defensive mistakes not capitalizing on our offensive opportunities. We know what we need to work on and are looking forward to a productive week of practice.”

CSUB heads to the Cal Baptist Tournament next Saturday where the Roadrunners will face the host Lancers at 10:30 a.m. and rematch with Arizona State at 2:15 p.m.

No. 6 Arizona State 15, CSU Bakersfield 5
                  1     2    3    4     F
ASU           3    4    5    3    15
CSUB        1    2    1    1     5

Arizona State Goals: Anna Kertes 3, Alicia Brightwell 3, Shannon Haas 2, Mariam Salloum 2, Kelsey White 2, Petra Pardi 2, Annabelle Carter 1,
Bakersfield Goals: Janelle Shelby 1, Shannon McKenzie 1, Paige Tsuruda 1, Sam Shead 1, Taylor Hanson 1

Arizon State Saves: Ianeta Hutchison 0
Bakersfield Saves: Alex Bayer  7

No. 17 UC Santa Barbara 11, CSU Bakersfield 4
                     1    2    3    4     F
CSUB           1    1    1    1     4             
UCSB           3    4    1    3    11

Bakersfield Goals: Jessica Browning 4
UCSB Goals: Lauren Martin 3, Bryce Winton 3, Shelby Haroldson 2, Elle Quane 2, Rachel Nelson 1

Bakersfield Saves:  Bayer 6
UCSB Saves: Ruth Milne 9

~www.GoRunners.com~