Friday, March 7
Northridge, Calif.
2:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
15-5
11
vs
17
#16 UC Davis
10-11
1
2
3
4
F
UC Davis
7
3
4
3
17
CSUN
3
3
3
2
11
Photo by: Connor Clark
CSUN's Anna Pal Breaks Assist Record in Loss to UC Davis
3/7/2025 3:56:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---No. 23 CSUN Water Polo dropped a 17-11 decision to No. 16 UC Davis in the Big West opener on Friday at Matador Pool. Kianna Melvin scored a game-high five goals to lead the way while Anna Pal added two goals. Pal would also make CSUN history by becoming the all-time career assist leader after dishing out four on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies' Sadie Henry opened up the scoring on the game's first possession before Tatum Scarry answered for CSUN. Madison Sparre gave the Aggies the lead once more, but Dorottya Telek connected for the Matadors to even the game at 2-2 at the 5:53 mark of the first period. However, from there, the Aggies went on the attack, scoring three times in a row with Liberty Massman putting her team up 5-2. Melvin slowed the momentum with a goal, but the Aggies scored twice in the final two minutes of the quarter, both of which on power plays for a 7-3 lead. CSUN would earn four 6-on-5 chances in the second period alone, however, UC Davis thwarted each chance. Meanwhile, the Aggies continued their run with two goals to open the second quarter for a 9-3 lead until Melvin broke that string with a goal. A Henry goal pushed the lead to 10-4, but CSUN gained a bit of momentum with two goals in the final 1:08 with Melvin and Pal recording the tallies to bring the Matadors to within 10-6 at intermission.
The Aggies would regain control in the third quarter with Bridget Miller scoring twice for a 12-6 lead as CSUN would be held scoreless until the 4:31 mark of the third quarter. Mackenzie Wood netted CSUN's first goal of the second half while Melvin hit two more goals to close the third. UC Davis though added to its lead with four total goals in the third quarter and took a 14-9 lead to the fourth period. Helena Sandhagen opened the final quarter with a goal on a power play, but the Aggies did not let the Matadors get any closer the rest of the way. Chelsea Johnson began a 3-0 Aggie run at the 6:54 mark to put the game out of reach. Pal would close the match with a late goal to get the score to 17-11.
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Proud of our effort today, not our execution though. Playing these top level teams in the Big West, they'll capitalize on all our mistakes and that's what happened over and over in the second half. A short turnaround and then we play the number three ranked Hawai'i on Sunday."
UP NEXT
CSUN hosts No. 3 Hawai'i in Big West action on Sunday at Matador Pool. Start time is set for noon.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies' Sadie Henry opened up the scoring on the game's first possession before Tatum Scarry answered for CSUN. Madison Sparre gave the Aggies the lead once more, but Dorottya Telek connected for the Matadors to even the game at 2-2 at the 5:53 mark of the first period. However, from there, the Aggies went on the attack, scoring three times in a row with Liberty Massman putting her team up 5-2. Melvin slowed the momentum with a goal, but the Aggies scored twice in the final two minutes of the quarter, both of which on power plays for a 7-3 lead. CSUN would earn four 6-on-5 chances in the second period alone, however, UC Davis thwarted each chance. Meanwhile, the Aggies continued their run with two goals to open the second quarter for a 9-3 lead until Melvin broke that string with a goal. A Henry goal pushed the lead to 10-4, but CSUN gained a bit of momentum with two goals in the final 1:08 with Melvin and Pal recording the tallies to bring the Matadors to within 10-6 at intermission.
The Aggies would regain control in the third quarter with Bridget Miller scoring twice for a 12-6 lead as CSUN would be held scoreless until the 4:31 mark of the third quarter. Mackenzie Wood netted CSUN's first goal of the second half while Melvin hit two more goals to close the third. UC Davis though added to its lead with four total goals in the third quarter and took a 14-9 lead to the fourth period. Helena Sandhagen opened the final quarter with a goal on a power play, but the Aggies did not let the Matadors get any closer the rest of the way. Chelsea Johnson began a 3-0 Aggie run at the 6:54 mark to put the game out of reach. Pal would close the match with a late goal to get the score to 17-11.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN drops to 15-5 overall and 0-1 in Big West play while UC Davis improves to 10-11 overall and 1-1 in conference.
- Pal surpassed Lindsy Duncan for first place on CSUN's all-time career assist list on Friday. Her four helpers pushed her career total to 198, two ahead of Duncan's 196. Duncan held the assist record at CSUN since 2014.
- Telek totaled three assists and three steals to go with her 81st goal of the season.
- Marin Byars started the match in goal and had one save in three quarters of action.
ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Proud of our effort today, not our execution though. Playing these top level teams in the Big West, they'll capitalize on all our mistakes and that's what happened over and over in the second half. A short turnaround and then we play the number three ranked Hawai'i on Sunday."
UP NEXT
CSUN hosts No. 3 Hawai'i in Big West action on Sunday at Matador Pool. Start time is set for noon.
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
UCD
CSUN
Shots
25
31
Goals
17
11
Assists
14
11
Points
31
22
Exclusions
14
10
Steals
12
10
Sprints
3
0
1
Sadie Henry
7:37
Tatum Scarry
7:07
Madison Sparre
6:43
Dorottya Telek
5:53
Madison Sparre
5:34
Sadie Henry
4:19
Liberty Massman
3:44
Kianna Melvin
2:36
Chelsea Johnson
2:16
Margo Tempel
0:54
2
Bridget Miller
3:46
Sam Yoo
3:00
Kianna Melvin
1:53
Sadie Henry
1:27
Kianna Melvin
1:08
Anna Pal
0:04
3
Bridget Miller
7:02
Bridget Miller
4:52
Mackenzie Wood
4:31
Madison Sparre
3:41
Kianna Melvin
2:53
Maddie Sumner
2:32
Kianna Melvin
2:09
4
Helena Sandhagen
7:36
Chelsea Johnson
6:54
Sam Yoo
5:14
Maddie Sumner
3:28
Anna Pal
2:51
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
8
Goals
5
Assists
1
Points
6
Shots
5
Goals
1
Assists
1
Points
2
Shots
3
Goals
1
Assists
3
Points
4
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
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