Saturday, April 5
Northridge, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
16-10, 1-5
12
vs
19
#12 UC San Diego
14-12, 3-2
1
2
3
4
F
UC San Diego
6
4
5
4
19
CSUN
4
2
3
3
12
Photo by: Connor Clark
#22 CSUN Drops High Scoring Battle to #12 UCSD on Senior Day
4/5/2025 1:26:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---No. 22 CSUN Water Polo fell on Senior Day by a 19-12 score to No. 12 UC San Diego on Saturday at Matador Pool. The Matador senior class accounted for 11 of the 12 goals in the contest with Helena Sandhagen leading the way with four goals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons came out quickly with goals from Courtney Okumura and Kendall Thomas in the first minute-plus of the match while a third goal came soon after on a five-meter penalty from Lucia Doak. The lead would swell to 4-0 before Anna Pal got the Matadors on the scoreboard at the 5:26 mark of the first quarter. CSUN would earn a five-meter penalty of its own with Dorottya Telek hitting the net. Just 21 seconds later, Pal completed a 3-0 CSUN run with her second goal of the match. Held scoreless for three minutes, UCSD broke through with back-to-back tallies but senior Kelsey Meyers struck the netting to beat the first quarter buzzer to pull the Matadors to within 6-4.Â
A goal from Thomas opened the second quarter, however, Sandhagen responded on the Matadors' ensuing possession to again trim the deficit to two (7-5). After CSUN earned a 6-on-5 chance, Sandhagen beat the defense again for a second straight goal to pull CSUN closer at 7-6. The Matadors though went the last six-plus minutes of the first half without a goal as UCSD took advantage. Okumua found the net while Abigail Schechter scored on a five-meter penalty and Caroline Chritsl scored late in the first half to stretch the lead to 10-6 at the break.
The Tritons extended to a 12-6 early on in the third period before CSUN picked up another five-meter penalty from Telek and a tally from Sofia Martinez to pull to within four. The Matadors though would not draw closer the rest of the way. UCSD used goals from Christl and Thomas to extend to a six-goal lead. Despite a late goal from Telek, CSUN still looked up at a 15-9 deficit through three quarters.
In the final stanza, Sandhagen added to her scoring total with two goals while fellow senior Tatum Scarry dented the net as well. The Tritons though countered with four more goals over the last eight minutes in securing the victory.
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Today was a great day to celebrate nine seniors who have given so much to the water polo program. They are leaving the program in a better place than they found it and we couldn't be more grateful to all they've done."
UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up the regular season next Saturday, April 12 on the road against UC Santa Barbara at noon.
#GoMatadors
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons came out quickly with goals from Courtney Okumura and Kendall Thomas in the first minute-plus of the match while a third goal came soon after on a five-meter penalty from Lucia Doak. The lead would swell to 4-0 before Anna Pal got the Matadors on the scoreboard at the 5:26 mark of the first quarter. CSUN would earn a five-meter penalty of its own with Dorottya Telek hitting the net. Just 21 seconds later, Pal completed a 3-0 CSUN run with her second goal of the match. Held scoreless for three minutes, UCSD broke through with back-to-back tallies but senior Kelsey Meyers struck the netting to beat the first quarter buzzer to pull the Matadors to within 6-4.Â
A goal from Thomas opened the second quarter, however, Sandhagen responded on the Matadors' ensuing possession to again trim the deficit to two (7-5). After CSUN earned a 6-on-5 chance, Sandhagen beat the defense again for a second straight goal to pull CSUN closer at 7-6. The Matadors though went the last six-plus minutes of the first half without a goal as UCSD took advantage. Okumua found the net while Abigail Schechter scored on a five-meter penalty and Caroline Chritsl scored late in the first half to stretch the lead to 10-6 at the break.
The Tritons extended to a 12-6 early on in the third period before CSUN picked up another five-meter penalty from Telek and a tally from Sofia Martinez to pull to within four. The Matadors though would not draw closer the rest of the way. UCSD used goals from Christl and Thomas to extend to a six-goal lead. Despite a late goal from Telek, CSUN still looked up at a 15-9 deficit through three quarters.
In the final stanza, Sandhagen added to her scoring total with two goals while fellow senior Tatum Scarry dented the net as well. The Tritons though countered with four more goals over the last eight minutes in securing the victory.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN drops to 16-10 overall and 1-5 in Big West while UCSD improves to 14-12 overall and 3-2 in conference.Â
- Telek's three goals in the match give the senior 98 tallies on the season. She is now four goals away from breaking her own single-season scoring record set in the 2023 season.
- Pal scored her 51st goal of the season while Sandhagen has now scored 42 times on the year.
- In front of the cage, Kiana Kellner had three saves in two quarters of action while Marin Byars added a pair of saves in the second half.
- CSUN celebrated its nine-member senior class of Nicole Bacoyanis, Kate Cornejo, Valeria Martinez, Jessica Matkovich, Meyers, Pal, Sandhagen, Scarry, Telek in a pre-game ceremony.
ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
"Today was a great day to celebrate nine seniors who have given so much to the water polo program. They are leaving the program in a better place than they found it and we couldn't be more grateful to all they've done."
UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up the regular season next Saturday, April 12 on the road against UC Santa Barbara at noon.
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
UCSD
CSUN
Shots
29
28
Goals
19
12
Assists
6
9
Points
25
21
Exclusions
8
11
Steals
3
9
Sprints
4
0
1
Courtney Okumura
7:32
Kendall Thomas
6:58
Lucia Doak
6:31
Courtney Okumura
5:38
Anna Pal
5:26
Dorottya Telek
4:03
Anna Pal
3:09
Holly Roberts
2:02
Emily Cloherty
1:13
Kelsey Meyers
0:03
2
Kendall Thomas
7:44
Helena Sandhagen
7:23
Helena Sandhagen
6:46
Courtney Okumura
4:30
Abigail Schechter
1:19
Caroline Christl
0:36
3
Sofia Munatones
7:45
Sydney Munatones
7:26
Dorottya Telek
6:46
Sofia Martinez
6:10
Caroline Christl
5:57
Kendall Thomas
3:31
Dorottya Telek
3:13
Emily Cloherty
1:56
4
Kendall Thomas
7:45
Helena Sandhagen
7:10
Caroline Christl
6:46
Abigail Schechter
5:09
Tatum Scarry
3:56
Helena Sandhagen
2:39
Abby Moll
1:34
Game Leaders
Shots
8
Goals
3
Assists
6
Points
9
Shots
5
Goals
4
Assists
1
Points
5
Shots
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
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