#22 CSUN Splits Two to Close Aztec Invite

Saturday, March 9

San Diego, Calif.

8:00 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

15-8

Concordia

9-11

Concordia

CSUN

Photo by: Steve Fitzgerald

#22 CSUN Splits Two to Close Aztec Invite

3/9/2024 10:14:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SAN DIEGO, Calif.---No. 22 CSUN Water Polo split its two games on the final day of the Aztec Invitational at the Aztec Aquaplex. The Matadors dropped a 13-11 decision to Concordia to start the day then defeated La Salle 9-3 in the final match.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. CONCORDIA
It would be back-and-forth morning game with Concordia striking first on a tally. CSUN nodded the game on a goal from Dorottya Telek, but Concordia answered on a power play. CSUN picked up goals from Anna Pal and Shelby Hovanesian with each squaring the game as the score was 3-3 after eight minutes. After the Eagles went ahead 4-3 in the second, Helena Sandhagen hit the tying goal on a penalty shot. Concordia went ahead again at the six-minute mark then added another on a goal from Abby Mammen before Hovanesian struck the netting. CSUN though went into the half trailing 7-5.

CSUN scored three of the first four goals of the third period with Telek hitting two to even the game at 8-8. Mammen though gave the Eagles the lead right back with 5:24 on the clock. Anna Pal would finish the third quarter strong with two strikes to lift CSUN to a 10-10 tie through three quarters. In the fourth though it would be all Concordia. Mammen opened up a 3-0 run to start the fourth as CSUN went without a goal until the final minute. A late strike from Valeria Martinez would not be enough to close the gap.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. LA SALLE
The afternoon game began even through the first four minutes with each side scoring twice. Telek powered CSUN's offense with two first-quarter goals while Pal and Nicole Thomas also hit the net to give CSUN a 4-2 lead after one period. The Matadors would go without a goal in the second quarter, but only gave up one tally as they took a 4-3 lead to intermission.

CSUN took control though in the second half. Thomas began the scoring in the third quarter on a power play and Pal hit the net as well on a 6-on-5 chance. CSUN led 6-3 through three periods but did not let up in the fourth. Kelsey Meyers got into the scoring act while Pal and Tatiana Smeltzer scored in addition to close a CSUN 5-0 second half to take the game.

NOTES OF THE GAMES

CSUN improves 16-8 on the season.
Pal scored six goals on the day while Telek added five. Hovanesian finished with a hat trick versus La Salle.
Meghan Lopez finished with 13 saves on the day with 10 coming in the win over La Salle.

ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"We let Concordia hang around in the first half and they stung us in the end. The stats tell the story. We have to score the ball, play great defense and follow the game plan to win the game, and this morning we didn't do any of those things.

"A good bounce back game against La Salle. We received big contributions from the bench and it was nice to end a long week with a victory. But the emotional roller coaster ride we've taken in the last seven days was what we were hoping to avoid midseason. It'll be important to level things out heading into the Big West schedule."

UP NEXT
CSUN will compete at the California Baptist Invite on Tuesday. The Matadors face La Salle in a rematch at 1 p.m. then take on California Baptist at 4:30 p.m.

#GoMatadors