CSUN Suffers 12-6 Loss to UC Irvine in Big West Opener

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

No. 25 CSUN Water Polo (10-15, 0-1 BWC) dropped its Big West opener to No. 6 UC Irvine (14-9, 1-1 BWC) on Saturday afternoon at Anteater Aquatics Complex. The Matadors' leading scorer Madeleine Sanchez posted a team-high four goals and goalkeeper Niki Van Vugt tallied eight saves in front of the cage. After a solid start for CSUN in the first period, the Anteaters were able to execute consistently on the offensive end over the final three quarters to claim the conference match.

Sanchez got the Matador offense rolling at the outset of the match. Capitalizing on an Anteater ejection, Sanchez connected on ther first tally of the contest at the 6:15 mark of the first quarter. The sophomore again found the netting a minute later, this time against a full UC Irvine defense to make it 2-0. CSUN's defense was also strong in the opening minutes, keeping UC Irvine off the scoreboard for over half of the first quarter.

With 3:18 left in the first, UCI ended the scoring drought with a goal from Julie Swieca and the Anteaters squared the game later in the quarter following a CSUN ejection. The game appeared it would be tied heading to the second but Swieca scored her second to give her team the lead.

CSUN again tightened up its defense in the second period and held UCI scoreless for 4:03 but the Matadors could not make up any ground over that span. The Anteaters' Hanna Lancaster scored the first goal of the period and UCI added another when Destene Albers hit the net at the 3:38 mark.

Playing against statistically the top defensive unit in the conference, Sanchez recorded a hat trick before halftime, scoring with 3:18 left in half to cut the deficit to 5-3. Unfortunately for CSUN, the Matadors could not move any closer as Albers knocked in a late goal to give the Anteaters a 6-3 lead at the half.

The teams again engaged in a defensive struggle for most of the third period until Lancaster scored at the 3:53 mark. The Matadors responded quickly a minute later with a tally from Emily Fuller but UCI scored two of the final three goals the rest of the way to take a 9-5 lead going to the fourth.

Sanchez registered her fourth goal of the day on a penalty shot to start the scoring in the period but CSUN was held scoreless in the final minutes. The Anteaters netted three over the final 3:55 to seal the win.

With her four scores on Saturday, Sanchez moved her season total to 62. She is now tied with Allison Brookes (2007) and Heidi Pettinger (2011) for the eighth most goals in a season in team history.

Yule continued her hot shooting in the match, recording her 38^th of the season in the third period. The sophomore center has scored in 13 of the last 16 matches.

The Matadors return back to the pool on Sunday afternoon at No. 16 Long Beach State. Game time for the conference match is slated for 12 p.m.

CSUN: 2-1-2-1 = 6
UCI: 3-3-3-3 = 12

CSUN Goal Scorers: Sanchez 4, Fuller, Yule
UCI Goal Scorers: Albers 2, Eldridge 2, Lancaster 2, Swieca 2, Carlson, Pierandozzi, Seidemann, Viramontes

CSUN GK Saves: Van Vugt 8
UCI GK Saves: Nelson 3

CSUN Suffers 12-6 Loss to UC Irvine in Big West Opener

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Players Mentioned

Emily Fuller

Madeleine Sanchez

Niki Van Vugt