California State University Northridge Athletics
Photo by: Connor Clark
Anna Pal Claims Big West Player of the Week Honors
4/17/2024 2:53:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Junior Anna Pal earned her first career Big West Player of the Week award on Wednesday, the league office announced. Pal helped lead CSUN to an upset win over then 14th-ranked UC Davis in the regular season finale last Saturday on the road.
In CSUN's 7-6 win over the Aggies, Pal found the back of the net four times including once down the stretch of the fourth period while she added an assist and a steal on the afternoon. The victory was CSUN's first over UC Davis since 2016 and the program's first on the road in Davis since 2014.
Pal would score three of CSUN's four goals in the first half, keeping the Matadors within a goal of UC Davis at halftime. She helped limit the Aggies to just one goal in the second half as CSUN rallied for three unanswered goals. Pal gave CSUN a 6-5 lead with three minutes left in the fourth period before teammate Dorottya Telek added another late tally to help hold off the Aggies. Her four goals were one shy of her career high she set earlier this season on March 3.
Originally from Budapest, Hungary, Pal has already registered a career-high 64 goals and 59 assists this season to go with a team-leading 123 points. She ranks first in The Big West in assists, second in points, third in goals and ninth in steals (31).
Pal is the second Matador to win the Big West Player of the Week award this season, joining Telek who received the nod on Feb. 14.
CSUN holds an 18-14 overall record and 2-5 Big West mark heading into the 2024 Big West Championships next Friday in Davis. The Matadors' opponent is yet to be determined as CSUN currently is positioned in the fifth seed heading into this week's final Big West matches. CSUN was ranked No. 19 in the latest CWPA national poll, which is the team's highest ranking since the 2020 season.
#GoMatadors
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In CSUN's 7-6 win over the Aggies, Pal found the back of the net four times including once down the stretch of the fourth period while she added an assist and a steal on the afternoon. The victory was CSUN's first over UC Davis since 2016 and the program's first on the road in Davis since 2014.
Pal would score three of CSUN's four goals in the first half, keeping the Matadors within a goal of UC Davis at halftime. She helped limit the Aggies to just one goal in the second half as CSUN rallied for three unanswered goals. Pal gave CSUN a 6-5 lead with three minutes left in the fourth period before teammate Dorottya Telek added another late tally to help hold off the Aggies. Her four goals were one shy of her career high she set earlier this season on March 3.
Originally from Budapest, Hungary, Pal has already registered a career-high 64 goals and 59 assists this season to go with a team-leading 123 points. She ranks first in The Big West in assists, second in points, third in goals and ninth in steals (31).
Pal is the second Matador to win the Big West Player of the Week award this season, joining Telek who received the nod on Feb. 14.
CSUN holds an 18-14 overall record and 2-5 Big West mark heading into the 2024 Big West Championships next Friday in Davis. The Matadors' opponent is yet to be determined as CSUN currently is positioned in the fifth seed heading into this week's final Big West matches. CSUN was ranked No. 19 in the latest CWPA national poll, which is the team's highest ranking since the 2020 season.
#GoMatadors
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Players Mentioned
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