Friday, April 26
Long Beach, CA
3:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
8
vs
15
#9 UC Davis
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
#22 CSUN Falls to #9 UC Davis at the Big West Tournament
4/26/2019 4:29:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
LONG BEACH, Calif.---No. 22 CSUN Water Polo (14-18) fell to No. 9 UC Davis 15-8 in the opening round of the Big West Tournament on Friday afternoon at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center. Senior Lindsey Garcia led the Matadors on the offensive end, tallying three goals while freshman Kylee Jansen added two goals of her own. In the cage, sophomore Emma Pfister racked up six saves.
The ninth-ranked Aggies (18-11) broke up a close game in the first half with a strong second quarter. CSUN played steady over the final two quarters but a comeback would not be in the cards on Friday.
GAME BREAKDOWN
The teams battled back-and-forth in the opening period. UC Davis struck first on a five-meter penalty shot from Noelle Wijnbelt. Jansen answered back for the Matadors with an even-strenghth shot before the Aggies took back the lead on the ensuing possession off a shot from Cassidy Smithson. Neither side could connect in the final minutes as the Aggies led 2-1 after one period.
The second quarter would turn the tide of the contest as the Aggies outscored the Matadors 6-0 in the period, building a sizable 8-1 lead at the half. Five different Aggies hit the net including Chloe Robinson who made two goals. Both Annie Kutt and Robinson connected on power plays while the Matadors could not take advantage of three 6-on-5 advantage possessions in the quarter.
Despite a huge hill to climb, the Matadors kept on fighting over the remaining 16 minutes. In the third, CSUN received a boost from Garcia who made two-straight goals to bring CSUN within 9-3 at the 4:40 mark. The teams traded goals over the last 4:14 of the third period with Jansen and Jennalyn Barthels each striking the netting. Robinson scored her third goal of the match via a five-meter penalty while Wijnbelt also completed the hat trick with two more goals in the quarter.
CSUN continued to chip away at the lead in the fourth quarter, scoring three of the first four goals to cut the lead to 12-8 with 3:59 to play. Tori Wilson and Sara Dempsey each connected on power plays and Garcia notched her third goal at the halfway mark of the fourth period to bring CSUN to within four. The Aggies though controlled the final minutes, scoring three times to put the game out of reach. Wijnbelt added to her goal total with her fourth of the afternoon with 2:11 left to play
Katia Andon-Mateos and Rachael Fusco each racked up two assists in the match while Barthels finished with four steals. Notching her 62nd goal of the season, Wilson has scored the 10th most goals in a season in team history.
CSUN - 1-0-4-3 = 8
UCD - 2-6-3-4 = 15
CSUN Goal Scorers: L. Garcia 3, Jansen 2, Wilson, Barthels, Dempsey
UCD Goal Scorers: Wijnbelt 4, Robinson 3, Kutt 2, Smithson 2, Schafle, Portales, Clague, Aikema
CSUN GK Saves: Pfister 6
UCD GK Saves: Noble 9
UP NEXT
The Matadors conclude the 2019 campaign on Saturday morning when they take on No. 13 Long Beach State in a fifth-place match at the Big West Tournament. Start time is set for 11 a.m. from Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center.
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The ninth-ranked Aggies (18-11) broke up a close game in the first half with a strong second quarter. CSUN played steady over the final two quarters but a comeback would not be in the cards on Friday.
GAME BREAKDOWN
The teams battled back-and-forth in the opening period. UC Davis struck first on a five-meter penalty shot from Noelle Wijnbelt. Jansen answered back for the Matadors with an even-strenghth shot before the Aggies took back the lead on the ensuing possession off a shot from Cassidy Smithson. Neither side could connect in the final minutes as the Aggies led 2-1 after one period.
The second quarter would turn the tide of the contest as the Aggies outscored the Matadors 6-0 in the period, building a sizable 8-1 lead at the half. Five different Aggies hit the net including Chloe Robinson who made two goals. Both Annie Kutt and Robinson connected on power plays while the Matadors could not take advantage of three 6-on-5 advantage possessions in the quarter.
Despite a huge hill to climb, the Matadors kept on fighting over the remaining 16 minutes. In the third, CSUN received a boost from Garcia who made two-straight goals to bring CSUN within 9-3 at the 4:40 mark. The teams traded goals over the last 4:14 of the third period with Jansen and Jennalyn Barthels each striking the netting. Robinson scored her third goal of the match via a five-meter penalty while Wijnbelt also completed the hat trick with two more goals in the quarter.
CSUN continued to chip away at the lead in the fourth quarter, scoring three of the first four goals to cut the lead to 12-8 with 3:59 to play. Tori Wilson and Sara Dempsey each connected on power plays and Garcia notched her third goal at the halfway mark of the fourth period to bring CSUN to within four. The Aggies though controlled the final minutes, scoring three times to put the game out of reach. Wijnbelt added to her goal total with her fourth of the afternoon with 2:11 left to play
Katia Andon-Mateos and Rachael Fusco each racked up two assists in the match while Barthels finished with four steals. Notching her 62nd goal of the season, Wilson has scored the 10th most goals in a season in team history.
CSUN - 1-0-4-3 = 8
UCD - 2-6-3-4 = 15
CSUN Goal Scorers: L. Garcia 3, Jansen 2, Wilson, Barthels, Dempsey
UCD Goal Scorers: Wijnbelt 4, Robinson 3, Kutt 2, Smithson 2, Schafle, Portales, Clague, Aikema
CSUN GK Saves: Pfister 6
UCD GK Saves: Noble 9
UP NEXT
The Matadors conclude the 2019 campaign on Saturday morning when they take on No. 13 Long Beach State in a fifth-place match at the Big West Tournament. Start time is set for 11 a.m. from Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center.
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Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Center
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
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