
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
Matadors Fall to UC Davis, 10-9, on Senior Day
4/10/2016 8:29:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
NORTHRIDGE, CA---
No. 25 CSUN Water Polo (10-18, 0-4 BWC) came up just short in its 10-9 defeat at the hands of No. 9 UC Davis (15-11, 1-3 BWC) on Senior Day at Matador Pool. Madeleine Sanchez and McKenzie Pollei led CSUN with three goals apiece on Sunday while Alexis Elias tallied two in the fourth period. Senior goalkeeper Natalie Averell posted four saves, one assist and a steal in her last home match.
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Following an emotional pre-game ceremony honoring seniors Averell, Taryn Kamimoto and Taitum Herrington, the teams competed in an evenly played match.
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In a tightly contested first period, each side took turns converting on the offensive end. Hailey Wright put the Aggies on the scoreboard first in the opening minute but CSUN would have an answer. Following a missed shot from Katelyn Fairchild, Amy Yule hit the net after a series of passes around the horn. UC Davis went back in front on the ensuing possession on a goal from Allyson Hansen and the Aggies later went up 3-1 on a goal from Carla Tocchini off a penalty shot.
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Trailing by two, the Matadors turned to their leading scorer Sanchez to bring them back. Sanchez tallied back-to-back goals in less than a minute to tie the game up with 1:23 on the clock. The Aggies looked to go back in front on the final possession of the first but two key stops from Averell including a shot before the buzzer ensured a tie after one.
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Both teams turned up the defense in the second period as neither side broke through for over half of the quarter. Two CSUN shots were saved at the net while Pollei and Shannon Hovanesian each racked up field blocks to keep UC Davis scoreless. Pollei eventually broke the tie with a looping score out of the reach of the Aggie defense. UC Davis answered back to square the game at 4-4 but Pollei again gave her team the lead on CSUN's next possession.
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Pollei continued her strong period of play, recording a hat trick with less than a minute in the half to give CSUN a 6-4 edge.Â
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In the third, the Aggies responded quickly out of the gate with consecutive tallies from Hansen to even the game at 6-6. The Matadors snatched back the lead though as Sanchez fired in a shot that was blocked near the net but trickled past the goal line.
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Down by one, the Aggies would tie the game again on a goal from Greta Kohlmoos with 4:36 left in the quarter. Over the final minute, the teams again tightened up their defense as the match entered its final period all squared at 7-7.
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The game remained tied in the early stages of the fourth with both teams having opportunities to score on respective 6-5 advantages but neither side was able to come away with the go-ahead score.
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After two scoreless minutes, the Aggies struck first when Kohlmoos hit the net with six minutes left to play. After CSUN committed a foul resulting in a penalty shot attempt, Paige Virgil converted the free shot to give the Aggies a 9-7 edge. UC Davis later added to its lead with a tally from Kohlmoos, pushing the lead to three with 3:11 left to go.
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With time running out and trailing by its largest lead, CSUN went to work on the offensive end. Elias recorded the Matadors' first goal of the period at the 2:50 mark and she added another with less than a minute to play to trim the lead to one.
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CSUN pressured on the defensive end on the ensuing possession, seeking a turnover and one last opportunity at the net but a costly foul in the final seconds allowed UC Davis to run out the clock and seal the win.
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The Matadors hit the road for their final two games of the regular season. CSUN seeks its first victory of conference play with a match at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, April 16 at 12 p.m. The Matadors wrap up the regular season with a non-conference contest at Loyola Marymount on April 23.Â
UC Davis: 3-1-3-3: 10
CSUN: 3-3-1-2: 9
UC Davis Goal Scorers: Hansen 3, Kohlmoos 3, Wright, Tocchini, Lutz, Virgil
CSUN Goal Scorers: Sanchez 3, Pollei 3, Elias 2, YuleÂ
CSUN Saves: Averell 4
Â(4/11/2016) CSUN Water Polo Senior Day 2016 Â
No. 25 CSUN Water Polo (10-18, 0-4 BWC) came up just short in its 10-9 defeat at the hands of No. 9 UC Davis (15-11, 1-3 BWC) on Senior Day at Matador Pool. Madeleine Sanchez and McKenzie Pollei led CSUN with three goals apiece on Sunday while Alexis Elias tallied two in the fourth period. Senior goalkeeper Natalie Averell posted four saves, one assist and a steal in her last home match.
Â
Following an emotional pre-game ceremony honoring seniors Averell, Taryn Kamimoto and Taitum Herrington, the teams competed in an evenly played match.
Â
In a tightly contested first period, each side took turns converting on the offensive end. Hailey Wright put the Aggies on the scoreboard first in the opening minute but CSUN would have an answer. Following a missed shot from Katelyn Fairchild, Amy Yule hit the net after a series of passes around the horn. UC Davis went back in front on the ensuing possession on a goal from Allyson Hansen and the Aggies later went up 3-1 on a goal from Carla Tocchini off a penalty shot.
Â
Trailing by two, the Matadors turned to their leading scorer Sanchez to bring them back. Sanchez tallied back-to-back goals in less than a minute to tie the game up with 1:23 on the clock. The Aggies looked to go back in front on the final possession of the first but two key stops from Averell including a shot before the buzzer ensured a tie after one.
Â
Both teams turned up the defense in the second period as neither side broke through for over half of the quarter. Two CSUN shots were saved at the net while Pollei and Shannon Hovanesian each racked up field blocks to keep UC Davis scoreless. Pollei eventually broke the tie with a looping score out of the reach of the Aggie defense. UC Davis answered back to square the game at 4-4 but Pollei again gave her team the lead on CSUN's next possession.
Â
Pollei continued her strong period of play, recording a hat trick with less than a minute in the half to give CSUN a 6-4 edge.Â
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In the third, the Aggies responded quickly out of the gate with consecutive tallies from Hansen to even the game at 6-6. The Matadors snatched back the lead though as Sanchez fired in a shot that was blocked near the net but trickled past the goal line.
Â
Down by one, the Aggies would tie the game again on a goal from Greta Kohlmoos with 4:36 left in the quarter. Over the final minute, the teams again tightened up their defense as the match entered its final period all squared at 7-7.
Â
The game remained tied in the early stages of the fourth with both teams having opportunities to score on respective 6-5 advantages but neither side was able to come away with the go-ahead score.
Â
After two scoreless minutes, the Aggies struck first when Kohlmoos hit the net with six minutes left to play. After CSUN committed a foul resulting in a penalty shot attempt, Paige Virgil converted the free shot to give the Aggies a 9-7 edge. UC Davis later added to its lead with a tally from Kohlmoos, pushing the lead to three with 3:11 left to go.
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With time running out and trailing by its largest lead, CSUN went to work on the offensive end. Elias recorded the Matadors' first goal of the period at the 2:50 mark and she added another with less than a minute to play to trim the lead to one.
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CSUN pressured on the defensive end on the ensuing possession, seeking a turnover and one last opportunity at the net but a costly foul in the final seconds allowed UC Davis to run out the clock and seal the win.
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The Matadors hit the road for their final two games of the regular season. CSUN seeks its first victory of conference play with a match at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, April 16 at 12 p.m. The Matadors wrap up the regular season with a non-conference contest at Loyola Marymount on April 23.Â
UC Davis: 3-1-3-3: 10
CSUN: 3-3-1-2: 9
UC Davis Goal Scorers: Hansen 3, Kohlmoos 3, Wright, Tocchini, Lutz, Virgil
CSUN Goal Scorers: Sanchez 3, Pollei 3, Elias 2, YuleÂ
CSUN Saves: Averell 4
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