#22 CSUN Falls Twice at CBU Invite

Tuesday, March 12

Riverside, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

16-9, 0-1

La Salle

10-11, 0-0

CSUN

La Salle

Photo by: Steve Fitzgerald

#22 CSUN Falls Twice at CBU Invite

3/12/2024 6:35:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

RIVERSIDE, Calif.---No. 22 CSUN Water Polo dropped two matches at the CBU Invite at Lancer Aquatic Center. The Matadors fell to La Salle by a 9-7 score in the early game before suffering a 17-10 defeat to host California Baptist to wrap up the day.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. LA SALLE
CSUN would fall behind 2-0 to start against La Salle before Shelby Hovanesian put the Matadors on the scoreboard with 3:24 left in the first quarter. However, the Explorers answered right back with a goal from Francesca Co'. La Salle opened up a 4-1 lead in the opening minute of the second quarter until Dorottya Telek found the netting for CSUN at the five-minute mark. Jenna Olson registered a goal late in the first half, but CSUN trailed 5-3 at intermission.

The Explorers took control in the third period, first with a goal from Martina Bonnet Saez then after Anna Pal scored for CSUN, La Salle picked up two-straight goals off Matador exclusions to extend to an 8-4 lead. In the fourth, CSUN drew four exclusions, but only cashed in on one six-on-five opportunity. The Matadors held La Salle to just one tally in the fourth quarter while scoring three of their own, however, the Explorers held on in the closing moments.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
It would be an even two minutes of play in the first period with CSUN and CBU scoring twice each. However, Telek's goal with 6:05 on the first quarter clock was CSUN's last goal of the first half. Emaly Hutton began a 3-0 CBU run to close the first period for a 5-2 lead. The Lancers would control the second period from start-to-finish, scoring five times, three of which on power plays to open a 10-2 lead at intermission.

CSUN's offense would finally turn around in the third quarter with three goals scored. Nicole Bacoyanis broke the scoreless drought in the opening minute of the third quarter while Kelsey Meyers and Helena Sandhagen also hit late goals in the period. The Matadors' offense continued to break through the defense in the fourth period as Olson hit the net early in the quarter followed by Nicole Bacoyanis, Beata Hitterer, Valeria Martinez and Hovanesian. CSUN scored three of the game's final four goals, but it was not enough to close the gap.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN falls to 16-10 on the season.
Hovanesian scored a combined three goals on the day while Pal had a hat trick versus La Salle.
Telek has scored a team-high 82 goals after scoring two on Tuesday.
Meghan Lopez finished with 17 total saves in six quarters of action while Kiana Kellner played two quarters and had four saves vs. CBU.

ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"We went 7-for-31 shooting against La Salle so that won't be good enough to win very many games. That being said, we were still competing until the end, but it just wasn't good enough today.

"Hats off to CBU, they came out with an energy that we just couldn't match. Hard way to end the non-conference schedule. Next up is the Big West so it doesn't get any easier from here. Back to work in the morning with two practices to prepare for UC Irvine."

UP NEXT
CSUN will return back to Big West play with its home conference opener against UC Irvine on Friday at noon.

#GoMatadors