No. 25 CSUN Falls on the Road at No. 3 Hawai'i

Saturday, March 23

Manoa, Hawaii

9:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

16-12, 0-3

#3 Hawai'i

15-3, 3-0

CSUN

Hawai'i

Photo by: Connor Clark

No. 25 CSUN Falls on the Road at No. 3 Hawai'i

3/23/2024 10:27:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

HONOLULU---No. 25 CSUN Water Polo dropped a 12-4 decision at No. 3 Hawai'i in a Big West match on Saturday night at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex. Anna Pal had a goal with two steals while Meghan Lopez finished with seven saves in front of the cage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rainbow Wahine took control at the start with back-to-back goals from Bia Mantellato Dias. Bernadette Doyle added to the lead at the 3:40 mark of the first period before Alba Bonamusa Boix capped a 4-0 lead for the high-powered Hawai'i team. CSUN was held off the scoreboard until the 6:41 mark of the second quarter when Pal hit the net. Hawai'i would take advantage of a pair of CSUN exclusions and scored on power plays to extend to a 7-1 lead. Lot Stertefeld pushed the lead further to seven, but Valeria Martinez connected for a goal to pull CSUN to within 8-2 at intermission.

The Matadors' defense would limit the Rainbow Wahine to a single tally in the third period while withstanding three power plays. Kianna Melvin notched CSUN's lone tally in the third quarter as the Matadors trailed 9-3 through 24 minutes. In the fourth, Hawai'i broke out with a 3-0 run to put the game out of reach. The Matadors would connect on a power play late in the fourth period with Nicole Bacoyanis picking up a tally to close the scoring.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN falls to 16-12 overall and 0-3 in Big West play while Hawai'i improves to 15-3 overall and 3-0 in conference.
With her seven saves, Lopez surpassed Kiernan Davis for second place on the school's all-time career saves list with 788.
Dorottya Telek finished with two steals, one assist and one field block while Shelby Hovanesian collected two steals.
Jessica Matkovich and Jenna Olson also finished with one assist apiece.

ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"We put up a great fight against the number three team in the nation. Proud of the effort tonight in a hostile environment. The Big West continues to prove to be the most competitive water polo conference in the NCAA."

UP NEXT
CSUN returns home to open its final two match homestand. The Matadors take on Long Beach State on Saturday, March 30 at noon.

#GoMatadors