#23 CSUN Falls on the Road at #11 LMU

Friday, February 9

Los Angeles, Calif.

4:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

4-3, 0-0Big West

#11 LMU

10-2, 0-0GCC

CSUN

Loyola Marymount

Photo by: Steve Fitzgerald

#23 CSUN Falls on the Road at #11 LMU

2/9/2024 8:22:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif.---No. 23 CSUN fell into an early hole and would not be able to overcome No. 11 LMU in a 16-8 defeat at Burns Aquatic Center on Friday. Tatiana Smeltzer was the lone multiple-goal scorer for CSUN, tallying two goals while Anna Pal had a goal and an assist.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions netted three unanswered goals to start before Kianna Melvin put the Matadors on the scoreboard at the 2:10 mark of the first period. However, LMU took advantage of a pair of power plays as Mikayla Lopez hit two-straight goals for a 5-1 lead. Dorottya Telek found the net near the end of the first period to trim the deficit to 5-2, but the Lions controlled the second quarter with four-straight tallies. A late goal from Shelby Hovanesian would cut into the deficit, however, CSUN trailed 10-3 through 16 minutes of action.

LMU built a 13-3 lead with three-straight tallies in the opening minutes of the third period before Tatiana Smeltzer hit the net herself on back-to-back shots. Pal added another for CSUN on a power play as the Matadors trailed 14-6 through three quarters. The Lions again started fast with two early goals in the fourth, but CSUN received a pair of late goals from off its bench via Leah Huisar and Kelsey Meyers to close the match.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Samantha Bright started and played two quarters in goal, posting seven saves while Kiana Kellner played the final two quarters and had two saves.
Nicole Thomas, Jade Cuevas and Anna Pal each had an assist in the match.
Dorottya Telek has now scored a team-high 29 goals this season while she pushed her career goal tally to 207. Telek is just four goals from tying Lindsy Duncan for fourth place on the all-time CSUN career goals list.

ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"LMU's defense forced us into uncomfortable situations. We need to handle the adversity better and be willing to adjust quicker. On a positive note, we saw some glimpses of greatness in the second half and there's definitely something to build on. Two more chances to compete tomorrow so we'll get home tonight and regroup."

UP NEXT
CSUN will compete in the Claremont Invite on Saturday. The Matadors face Concordia at 12 p.m. before taking on the host Claremont Mudd-Scripps at 3 p.m. Both games will be live streamed via the SCIACNetwork.com.

#GoMatadors