No. 22 CSUN Closes Barbara Kalbus Invite with Win Over LMU

Sunday, February 26

Irvine, CA

9:00 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

#20 Loyola Marymount

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

No. 22 CSUN Closes Barbara Kalbus Invite with Win Over LMU

2/26/2017 1:15:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

No. 22 CSUN Water Polo closed its stay at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational with an 8-6 victory over No. 22 Loyola Marymount on Sunday morning at Corona del Mar Pool. Katelyn Fairchild recorded a hat trick while Madeleine Sanchez netted two goals and the trio of Amy Yule, McKenzie Pollei and Shannon Hovanesian all put up single tallies. Nathalie Brewster received the start in the cage and posted 12 saves. With the win, the Matadors earned their first win over a Top 20 team this season.

Sanchez kicked off the scoring for the Matadors with a goal 49 seconds into the contest. LMU responded with back-to-back goals from Arianna St. Oegger and Morgan Molloy to take a 2-1 lead at the 5:51 mark of the period. CSUN would own the final minutes of the quarter, however, as Fairchild, Pollei and Yule all scored to give the Matadors a 4-2 edge after eight minutes.

Caitlin Shafer cut the CSUN lead to 4-3 about a minute into the second quarter but Sanchez got the goal back with a shot at the 5:36 mark. CSUN kept the Lions at bay for the remainder of the quarter, and Fairchild added to the lead with a goal on the power play to extend to a 6-3 lead at the break.

Loyola Marymount scored its first goal in nearly eight minutes via a shot from Shafer early on in the third quarter. Hovaensian added to the lead on a strike at the midway portion of the period followed by another goal from Fairchild at the 2:40 mark. CSUN committed a foul in the final minute resulting in a penalty shot that Hana Vilanova nailed to cut the lead to 8-5. Facing several shots, Brewster tallied a game-high five saves in the period.

The Matadors' defense went to work in the fourth, holding the Lions to another one-goal quarter. Kiana Etrata hit the net in the final minute but it would not be enough as CSUN held on for the victory.

With her nine goals this weekend, Sanchez moved into eighth place in the Matadors' all-time scoring list with 148 career goals. Sanchez is now 14 goals away from tying Jessica Coy (2007-09) for seventh place on the list.

CSUN will take a break from its regular season schedule to host its annual alumni game on Saturday, March 4. Start time is set for 11 a.m.

CSUN - 4-2-2-0 = 8
LMU - 2-1-2-1 = 6

CSUN goal scorers: Fairchild 3 (41), Sanchez 2 (47), Yule (18), Hovanesian (18), Pollei (8)
LMU goal scorers: Shafer 2, Oegger, Molloy, Etrata, Vilanova

CSUN saves: Brewster 12 (76)
LMU saves: Verdugo 4