Sunday, March 12
Northridge, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
15-7, 0-2
3
vs
12
#5 Hawai'i
13-2, 2-0
1
2
3
4
F
Hawai'i
3
1
3
5
12
Cal State Northridge
1
0
1
1
3
Photo by: Connor Clark
Matadors Fall to Fifth-Ranked Hawai'i
3/12/2023 1:55:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
NORTHRIDGE, Calif,---No. 23 CSUN Water Polo (15-7, 0-2 Big West) dropped a 12-3 decision to No. 5 Hawai'i (13-2, 2-0 Big West) on Sunday afternoon at Matador Pool. Three different Matadors hit the back of the net in the match. Goalkeeper Meghan Lopez finished with 15 saves in front of the cage. CSUN only trailed by three goals at halftime, but the Rainbow Wahine would pull away in the second half to pick up the win.
Luca Gomez de la Puente opened up the scoring on the afternoon with two-straight goals to put Hawai'i on top. CSUN drew three exclusions on the Rainbow Wahine in the first period, but could not find the net until the 2:03 mark when Shelby Hovanesian scored. CSUN trailed 2-1 with a little over a minute to play in the opening period before Gomez de la Puente completed the hat trick for a 3-1 Hawai'i lead.
In the second period, Hawai'i added to its lead with a goal from Jordan Wedderburn on a power play. CSUN's defense though held Hawai'i off the scoreboard over the last five-plus minutes of the first half, withstanding three power plays. Meanwhile, the Matadors were unable to find the net in the second period as the deficit remained at 4-1.
The Rainbow Wahine began to pull away in the third period, recording the first three tallies of the second half. Libby Gault scored two of her team's three goals in the period while CSUN finally cracked the scoring column on a goal from Jessica Matkovich with 23 seconds on the clock.
Hawai'i extended its lead to 10-2 with three-straight tallies to open the fourth period. Anna Pal netted CSUN's lone goal of the fourth quarter before Morgan Rios closed the scoring with two more Hawai'i goals.
GAME NOTES
Helena Sandhagen tallied three steals to lead the team while Tatiana Smeltzer had an assist in the contest. Dorottya Telek was held without a goal for just the second time this season, but she finished with two exclusions drawn and one steal.
ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"With days like today, it's a reminder of how fortunate we are to compete in the Big West conference. That Hawai'i team will compete for a national title and playing the best is great experience for us. I'm proud of our squad for the overall fight we showed today."
UP NEXT
CSUN continues Big West play with a road match at Long Beach State on Saturday, March 18. Start time is set for noon.
#GoMatadors
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Luca Gomez de la Puente opened up the scoring on the afternoon with two-straight goals to put Hawai'i on top. CSUN drew three exclusions on the Rainbow Wahine in the first period, but could not find the net until the 2:03 mark when Shelby Hovanesian scored. CSUN trailed 2-1 with a little over a minute to play in the opening period before Gomez de la Puente completed the hat trick for a 3-1 Hawai'i lead.
In the second period, Hawai'i added to its lead with a goal from Jordan Wedderburn on a power play. CSUN's defense though held Hawai'i off the scoreboard over the last five-plus minutes of the first half, withstanding three power plays. Meanwhile, the Matadors were unable to find the net in the second period as the deficit remained at 4-1.
The Rainbow Wahine began to pull away in the third period, recording the first three tallies of the second half. Libby Gault scored two of her team's three goals in the period while CSUN finally cracked the scoring column on a goal from Jessica Matkovich with 23 seconds on the clock.
Hawai'i extended its lead to 10-2 with three-straight tallies to open the fourth period. Anna Pal netted CSUN's lone goal of the fourth quarter before Morgan Rios closed the scoring with two more Hawai'i goals.
GAME NOTES
Helena Sandhagen tallied three steals to lead the team while Tatiana Smeltzer had an assist in the contest. Dorottya Telek was held without a goal for just the second time this season, but she finished with two exclusions drawn and one steal.
ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"With days like today, it's a reminder of how fortunate we are to compete in the Big West conference. That Hawai'i team will compete for a national title and playing the best is great experience for us. I'm proud of our squad for the overall fight we showed today."
UP NEXT
CSUN continues Big West play with a road match at Long Beach State on Saturday, March 18. Start time is set for noon.
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
HAW
CSUN
Shots
29
18
Goals
12
3
Assists
0
1
Points
12
4
Exclusions
10
9
Steals
8
12
Sprints
0
4
1
Lucia Gomez de la Puente
4:58
Lucia Gomez de la Puente
3:04
Shelby Hovanesian
2:03
Lucia Gomez de la Puente
1:08
2
Jordan Wedderburn
5:30
3
Bia Mantellato Dias
6:34
Libby Gault
5:30
Libby Gault
3:45
Jessica Matkovich
0:23
4
Cila David
6:10
Cila David
4:26
Lucia Gomez de la Puente
3:53
Anna Pal
2:39
Morgan Rios
2:08
Morgan Rios
0:33
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
Goals
0
Assists
1
Points
1
Shots
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Shots
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water PoloAttacker
/ Women's Water PoloAttacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Center
/ Women's Water PoloA Conversation With Matt Warshaw
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