Matadors Defeat Loyola Marymount, 9-7, in Regular Season Finale

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

No. 25 CSUN Water Polo (11-19) pulled out a 9-7 victory over No. 20 Loyola Marymount (11-19) in both teams' regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at Burns Aquatic Center. Sophomore attacker Madeleine Sanchez led CSUN in scoring with three goals while fellow sophomore Amy Yule picked up a pair. Katelyn Fairchild tallied four steals in the match to go along with an assist and a goal. Niki Van Vugt played solid defense in the cage as she compiled seven saves on Saturday.

In the Matadors' final tune up before the start of Big West Conference Tournament play next weekend, CSUN competed in a back-and-forth affair with the Lions. LMU struck first in the match at the 5:29 mark of the first on a score from Emily Bryne but McKenzie Pollei would even the game at 1-1 a minute later. Both teams had opportunities at the net over the final minutes of the first period but the game remained tied heading to the second period.

Erin Bryne put her team back in front in the opening minute of the second quarter but the Matadors answered right back moments later. The Lions' defense committed a costly foul resulting in a five-meter penalty shot for the Matadors. Sanchez stepped up and converted on the penalty shot to tie the game. Loyola Marymount regained the lead on a power play with 6:13 left into the half before CSUN took advantage of a pair 6-on-5 opportunities to take its first lead of the afternoon. Yule's goal with just under 4:00 on the clock gave CSUN a 4-3 edge and Alexis Elias added another goal right before halftime to push the lead to two.

Ivana Castro put the Lions on the scoreboard first in the third quarter to cut the CSUN lead to 5-4 but the Matadors would hold LMU scoreless for nearly the remainder of the period. Sanchez pushed the lead to 7-4 with consecutive goals against a full-strength defense before the Lions ended the dry spell with a goal in the final minute of the third.

In the fourth, the Lions once again pulled to within one on a score from Hana Vilanova but CSUN again took control with scores from Yule and Fairchild. The Matadors withstood three 6-on-5 power plays from LMU in the final quarter until the Lions finally converted after a CSUN exclusion to cut the deficit to 9-7. Ahead by two, CSUN managed the game clock effectively down the stretch to hold on for the win.

The Matadors faced 12 power plays in the match but only four goals would come in during those possessions. In contrast, CSUN only had three 6-on-5 advantages on the day but the Matadors would convert twice against the LMU defense.

Sanchez's three goals give her 71 on the season as she becomes the fourth Matador in team history to reach the 70-goal milestone for a single season.

CSUN now sets its sights to the Big West Conference Tournament beginning on April 29 at UC Santa Barbara. The Matadors will be the sixth seed in the tournament and will face the number three seed in the opening round.

CSUN: 1-4-2-2 = 9
LMU: 1-2-2-2 = 7

CSUN Goal Scorers: Sanchez 3, Yule 2, Abellan Garcia, Fairchild, Elias, Pollei
LMU Goal Scorers: Vilanova 2, Emily Byrne, Erin Byrne, Nelson, Castro, Hill

CSUN GK Saves: Van Vugt 7
LMU GK Saves: Flores 10

Matadors Defeat Loyola Marymount, 9-7, in Regular Season Finale

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Players Mentioned

Alexis Elias

Katelyn Fairchild

McKenzie Pollei

Madeleine Sanchez

Niki Van Vugt

Amy Yule