#22 CSUN Drops Two to Open Aztec Invite

Friday, March 8

San Diego, Calif.

11:30 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

15-6

#17 San José State

8-7

CSUN

San Jose State

Photo by: Steve Fitzgerald

#22 CSUN Drops Two to Open Aztec Invite

3/8/2024 9:06:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SAN DIEGO, Calif.---No. 22 CSUN Water Polo dropped a pair of matches on day one of the Aztec Invitational on Friday at the Aztec Aquaplex. The Matadors suffered a 9-4 setback to No. 17 San José State before falling to No. 24 San Diego State 11-8. Dorottya Telek scored a team-leading four combined goals on the day while Meghan Lopez racked up 14 total saves in 56 minutes.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAN JOSÉ STATE
CSUN would get out of the blocks slowly in the opening game, following behind 3-0. Lopez scored the Matadors' lone tally of the first quarter with a buzzer beater to bring CSUN to within 3-1. The Spartans picked up an early second quarter goal from Ryann Lucchesi then another tally from Ivanna Anderson-Villela to open a 5-1 advantage. Telek earned a five-meter penalty shot with 4:32 left in the second period and she would hit the net. However, CSUN again was limited to a single goal in a quarter as San José State took a 5-2 lead into halftime.

The Spartans put the game out of reach in the third period, scoring three times including once on a power play to open an 8-2 lead. CSUN would be held without a second-half goal until the 1:07 mark of the fourth period when Helena Sandhagen struck the netting. Jade Cuevas hit CSUN's last goal of the match late in the fourth quarter.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAN DIEGO STATE
Anna Pal opened up the scoring for an early CSUN 1-0 lead, but the Aztecs answered with three consecutive goals to take a 3-1 advantage through eight minutes. A Claudia Valdes five-meter penalty extended the lead to three before Telek found the net at the 4:30 mark of the second quarter. However, CSUN was held scoreless for the rest of the half while San Diego State picked up a tally on a power play to lead 5-2.

Sydney Gish scored in the first 16 seconds of the second half, but Pal answered for CSUN to cut the deficit to 6-3. Telek and Tatum Scarry hit back-to-back goals in the third to pull the Matadors to within 7-5, however, the Aztecs maintained their lead and took an 8-5 lead to the fourth period. Despite Telek's third goal, CSUN still trailed 10-6 with three minutes to play. Jessica Matkovich hit back-to-back tallies late, but it would not be enough to close the cap.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN falls to 15-7 overall.
Telek pushed her season goal tally to 75 on the season while Pal has 43 goals.
Shelby Hovanesian finished with three total assists.
Tatiana Smeltzer, Scarry and Telek each had two total steals.

ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"After a week of having no pool available, we looked about how we should have. No excuses, but this was anything but a level playing field this week.

"It was a great battle against San Diego State, but we came up short today in two games. Frustrating to say the least when the better team on paper doesn't come away with a victory. Back to work with two more road games tomorrow."

UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up the Aztec Invite on Saturday with two matches starting with Concordia at 8 a.m. The Matadors will also take on La Salle at 12:40 p.m.

#GoMatadors