UC San Diego Tritons tame Pioneers at Chabot College
Photo by Kristiana Federe/The Pioneer
April 7, 2016
Despite a three-game winning streak, the Cal State East Bay water polo team could not defend their home city on Sunday.
The Pioneers fell to 12-9 overall and 0-1 in Western Water Polo Association Conference play after they lost to the UC San Diego Tritons (22-9 overall, 3-0 conference) 8-3 at Chabot College. Chabot will also host the WWPA Championships from April 29 to May 1.
At this point in the year last season, East Bay was 11-14 overall and still managed to make it to the WWPA Conference Championship, where they lost to the Tritons, 10-8 in Geneva, Ohio.
Things got off to a rocky start for the Pioneers, who found themselves down early in the first period thanks to 2 goals from San Diego. Junior center Lauren Boyer tallied the first goal of the game at the 4:03 mark and senior attacker Laurel Kistler made the UCSD advantage 2-0 after she found the back of the net with a minute left in the first period.
CSUEB senior utility player Tori Dettloff cut the lead in half when she scored on an assist from senior two meter Taylor Cross. Seniors Casey Rushforth and Sabrina Hatzer both added goals for East Bay in the second and third periods respectively, however, the Pioneers could not contain the Tritons attack.
San Diego took a 5-3 advantage into the final period and went on to score the final 3 goals for an 8-3 victory. Boyer led the way for the Tritons with 3 goals on 4 shots. UCSD senior goalkeeper Courtney Miller secured the victory with 6 saves and a steal on the day. CSUEB junior goalkeeper Nikki Vaughan picked up the loss with 14 saves in complete games for both keepers. Tritons senior attacker Emma Sasson recorded a game-high 2 assists in the winning effort.
Next up for East Bay is a home game at Pioneer Pool in Hayward on Saturday, when the Pioneers will host Sonoma State at noon. The Seawolves are 10-13 overall and 1-1 in conference competition. San Diego’s next action will be at noon on April 16 when they host California Baptist University (19-8, 3-1).
