California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

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CSUEB Women’s Water Polo Team Heads to CCAA Tournament

Women’s water polo team held Colorado State
scoreless in second quarter.

The women’s CSU East Bay Pioneer water polo team played their last home game of the season Friday, defeating the Colorado State Rams, 13-8 while honoring their lone senior, Claire Pierce.

Two aspects of the game seemed to play a large role in the Pioneer win.

“It was all about defense and communication,” said Head Coach Lisa Cooper. “We really buckled down on our defense, and our offensive movement was great as well but it was all about our defensive communication.”

The Pioneers found themselves tied 5-5 with the Rams as the first quarter ended but with the defense and communication the Pioneers, shut out the Rams the entire second quarter.

Pierce scored four goals in the quarter and the Rams were never able to get back into the game.

Sara Hudlyn, who leads the Pioneers in goals with 81 and scored a goal in the win, credits preparation for the win Friday.

“We went into it really hyped,” said Hudlyn. “We implemented what we worked on in practice all week just to crush them in the pool today.”

Hudlyn credits her outstanding season for an approach that seems to be shared by many of her teammates and seems to brush aside her individual achievement.

“My mentality every game is just go out and do what I personally need to do to help the team achieve success,” said Hudlyn. “Being able to score all those goals and be the leading scorer is kind of icing on the cake.”

Before the game, the Pioneers honored  Pierce with a ceremony before the game.

Pierce, a three-time All-American, three-time All-WWPA selection, and a three-time All-Academic honoree, will leave the team as the all-time leader in goals and steals.

When asked about Pierce, Cooper boasted about her accomplishments in and out of the pool.

“She is all-time leading scorer, all-time leader in steals, so she plays on both ends of the field and is just an all around good kid,” said Cooper. “She scored seven goals today. She can single handedly destroy teams and that is what she did to Colorado.”

When asked about her CSUEB career, Pierce briefly reflected on her four years and acknowledged there is still more work to be done this season.

“It has been a long four years. I’ve learned a lot,” said Pierce. “I just want to play well and finish off strong. My main thing, I just want to win.”

Pierce also talked about what she will miss most when her CSUEB career comes to a close at the end of the season.

“Definitely my team,” said Australian native, Pierce. “Being away from home, it makes you kind of a little family here with your teammates so I will miss my teammates, because you see them every single day and its awesome, I will probably miss that the most.”

The Pioneers will begin the CCAA Invitational Tournament, which starts April 13th in Fresno.

Cooper seems set on having support at the upcoming tournament.

“The CCAA tournament is next weekend, that should be a big one for us,” said Cooper. “Our goal is to make it to the final game and anything can happen if we make it to the championship game of the CCAA.”

When asked about the CCAA tournament, Pierce seemed to echo her coach’s mindset.

“I think we can do well, we’ve beaten the majority of those teams,” said Pierce. “As long as we step up and come ready to play, we will have a good outcome.”

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CSUEB Women’s Water Polo Team Heads to CCAA Tournament