Saturday, January 27
Riverside, Calif.
8:00 a.m.
California State University at Northridge
10
vs
12
#25 Biola
Photo by: Steve Fitzgerald
#21 CSUN Drops Two Close Decisions at Lancer Joust
1/27/2024 8:18:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE, Calif.---No. 21 CSUN Water Polo would lose a pair of close matches at California Baptist's Lancer Joust on Saturday. The Matadors would fall to No. 25 Biola 12-10 before dropping a 10-8 decision to No. 18 San José State to close the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. BIOLA
The Matadors played a back-and-forth match with the Eagles in the morning match. Helena Sandhagen got the Matadors on the scoreboard first at the six-minute mark of the first quarter before Biola scored back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead. Valeria Martinez tied the match again on a power play, but Mattie Herzog squared the match moments later. The Matadors though picked up goals from Shelby Hovanesian and Dorottya Telek to take a 4-3 lead through eight minutes. Biola opened the second quarter with two-straight goals, but Anna Pal tied the match yet again at 5-5. The score would be tied at 6-6 and 7-7 with Telek scoring both CSUN's tallies. The Matadors though went into halftime trailing 8-7.
Sanghagen tied the match for eighth time early in the third period, but the Eagles closed the quarter with two strikes for a 10-8 lead. CSUN would fall behind 12-8 on two 6-on-5 opportunities for Biola before making one last surge. Telek found the net on a penalty with 2:42 remaining then Kianna Melvin scored a minute later to pull CSUN to within 12-10. The Matadors got another look at goal but came up empty as Biola controlled the final moments to pick up the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAN JOSÉ STATE
CSUN would dig a 3-1 hole to start against SJSU with Valeria Martinez putting CSUN on the scoreboard first. Jessica Matkovich would close the period though with a tally to pull CSUN to within 3-2 after eight minutes. Renee Fleming opened the second quarter with a goal, but Hovanesian returned the favor with a goal on the power play. Telek then scored as well at the 2:55 mark to square the match at 4-4. The Spartans though wrapped up the half with a strike from Sinia Plotz for a 5-4 lead.
Anna Pal netted the tying goal in the opening minute of the third period, but CSUN went scoreless over the next four-plus minutes. Meanwhile, SJSU opened a 7-5 lead. Telek would bring CSUN closer at 7-6 before CSUN held SJSU scoreless over the final two-plus minutes of the third. In the fourth quarter, CSUN pulled to within 8-7 on a goal from Telek with 7:10 left to play. However, the Spartans stayed in front thanks to back-to-back goals. Sandhagen brought CSUN to within 10-8 with 3:04 left to play but the Matadors never got closer.
GAME NOTES
ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Tough way to start the morning against Biola, we didn't control the pace of the game or the time of possession enough to win. Our turnovers cost us the chance to come away with a victory.
"It's hard to bounce back after a disappointing loss this morning but we did. We played a much better overall defensive game but just came up short in the end. Good news is we have San José again in March so we'll have a great chance for a rematch."
UP NEXT
CSUN competes at the Redlands Invitational next Saturday (Feb. 3). The Matadors face host Redlands at 9 a.m. before facing Azusa Pacific at 11 a.m.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED VS. BIOLA
The Matadors played a back-and-forth match with the Eagles in the morning match. Helena Sandhagen got the Matadors on the scoreboard first at the six-minute mark of the first quarter before Biola scored back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead. Valeria Martinez tied the match again on a power play, but Mattie Herzog squared the match moments later. The Matadors though picked up goals from Shelby Hovanesian and Dorottya Telek to take a 4-3 lead through eight minutes. Biola opened the second quarter with two-straight goals, but Anna Pal tied the match yet again at 5-5. The score would be tied at 6-6 and 7-7 with Telek scoring both CSUN's tallies. The Matadors though went into halftime trailing 8-7.
Sanghagen tied the match for eighth time early in the third period, but the Eagles closed the quarter with two strikes for a 10-8 lead. CSUN would fall behind 12-8 on two 6-on-5 opportunities for Biola before making one last surge. Telek found the net on a penalty with 2:42 remaining then Kianna Melvin scored a minute later to pull CSUN to within 12-10. The Matadors got another look at goal but came up empty as Biola controlled the final moments to pick up the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAN JOSÉ STATE
CSUN would dig a 3-1 hole to start against SJSU with Valeria Martinez putting CSUN on the scoreboard first. Jessica Matkovich would close the period though with a tally to pull CSUN to within 3-2 after eight minutes. Renee Fleming opened the second quarter with a goal, but Hovanesian returned the favor with a goal on the power play. Telek then scored as well at the 2:55 mark to square the match at 4-4. The Spartans though wrapped up the half with a strike from Sinia Plotz for a 5-4 lead.
Anna Pal netted the tying goal in the opening minute of the third period, but CSUN went scoreless over the next four-plus minutes. Meanwhile, SJSU opened a 7-5 lead. Telek would bring CSUN closer at 7-6 before CSUN held SJSU scoreless over the final two-plus minutes of the third. In the fourth quarter, CSUN pulled to within 8-7 on a goal from Telek with 7:10 left to play. However, the Spartans stayed in front thanks to back-to-back goals. Sandhagen brought CSUN to within 10-8 with 3:04 left to play but the Matadors never got closer.
GAME NOTES
- Dorottya Telek scored four goals against Biola while she added three more against San José State.
- Telek has now scored 201 career goals.
- Helena Sandhagen finished with three total goals on the day.
- Meghan Lopez posted five saves in 16 minutes against Biola and another 13 saves in a full 32 minutes versus SJSU.
ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Tough way to start the morning against Biola, we didn't control the pace of the game or the time of possession enough to win. Our turnovers cost us the chance to come away with a victory.
"It's hard to bounce back after a disappointing loss this morning but we did. We played a much better overall defensive game but just came up short in the end. Good news is we have San José again in March so we'll have a great chance for a rematch."
UP NEXT
CSUN competes at the Redlands Invitational next Saturday (Feb. 3). The Matadors face host Redlands at 9 a.m. before facing Azusa Pacific at 11 a.m.
#GoMatadors
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Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Center
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