#25 CSUN Earns Split on Day One of Bronco Invite

Friday, February 13

Santa Clara, Calif.

11:30 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

Santa Clara

CSUN

Santa Clara

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

#25 CSUN Earns Split on Day One of Bronco Invite

2/13/2026 8:31:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SANTA CLARA, Calif.---No. 25 CSUN Water Polo opened day one of the Bronco Invitational going 1-1 on Friday at Sullivan Aquatic Center. The Matadors defeated host Santa Clara in the morning match, 12-5, but came up short against No. 12 Marist, falling 16-11 to close the day.

Freshman Mira Dravucz led CSUN with five goals combined on Friday while fellow sophomore Mackenzie Wood had four goals and two assists. Goalkeeper Erika Staine saw action in both contests, totaling 14 saves.

CSUN-SANTA CLARA RECAP
The Matadors wasted little jumping on the Broncos in their wire-to-wire victory. A Wood goal 43 seconds into the match opened the scoring while Raygan Carroll added two straight goals for an early 3-0 lead. CSUN held Santa Clara without a goal until the 6:21 mark of the second period as Evelyn McLaughlin got her team on the scoreboard. CSUN though answered with a goal from Ella Furuholmen and another from Wood on a power play late in the quarter for a 5-1 lead at intermission.

In the third quarter, the tandem of Dravucz and Sofia Martinez gave the Matadors a 7-1 advantage as CSUN again limited Santa Clara to a single tally for a full period. Sophia Cooper would close the third quarter with a power play strike for an 8-2 Matador lead. Santa Clara would open the fourth quarter with back-to-back tallies to pull within four before Jade Cuevas found the back of the net at the 3:24 mark. Dravucz netted her second goal of the match moments later and completed the hat trick with 1:16 left to go en route to the 12-5 victory.

CSUN-MARIST RECAP
The Matadors kept pace with the 12th-ranked Red Foxes through the first four-plus minutes of action. Ashley Strickland broke the seal for CSUN, tying the game at 1-1 while Cooper scored on a power play with 3:19 to go, making it a 2-2 game. Marist though took control over the final two minutes of the first quarter, scoring three unanswered goals including a buzzer beater from Lela McCarroll for a 5-2 lead. CSUN dug a four-goal deficit before Dravucz scored on a power play for a 6-3 Marist lead. However, much like the first quarter, the Red Foxes took control late in a period with four straight goals, three of which on power plays. A late tally from Lucie Lapuz ended the run, but CSUN looked up at a 10-4 deficit at halftime.

The Matadors dug a 12-5 deficit early in the third period but took advantage of Marist exclusions to pull to within five after goals from Dravucz and Wood. CSUN gained a penalty shot early in the fourth with Dakota Bumbaca hitting the net, cutting the deficit further at 12-8. Near the four-minute mark, Krueger and Cooper each found the net to bring CSUN to within 14-11, however, Marist would not let the Matadors get any closer. A tally from Paige Naegle followed by a goal from Elaia Berecibar sealed a Marist victory.

NOTES OF THE GAMES

With today's results, CSUN stands at 8-2 overall this season.
In the morning match, Dravucz recorded a hat trick while Carroll, Furuholmen and Wood had two goals apiece.
The trio of Dravucz, Cooper and Wood had two goals apiece versus Marist.
Staine totaled nine saves against Santa Clara.

ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
On the Santa Clara game
"I was proud of our team defense holding Santa Clara to five goals, but we left quite a few opportunities out there on the offensive end that we'll need to clean up as the weekend goes."

On the Marist game
"We definitely had moments of greatness in this game, but we weren't able to stay consistent. In the end, Marist's experience and finishing their counter attack opportunities just added up to their advantage. Two more great tests for us tomorrow on this road trip."

UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up the Bronco Invitational on Sunday by taking on No. 18 San Jose State at 8:30 a.m. and No. 22 Pacific at 12:15 p.m.

#GoMatadors