#23 CSUN Splits Home Invite, Warshaw Becomes All-Time Winningest Coach

Thursday, March 5

Northridge, Calif.

4:30 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

10-5

Villanova

10-6

Villanova

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

#23 CSUN Splits Home Invite, Warshaw Becomes All-Time Winningest Coach

3/5/2026 10:40:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---No. 23 CSUN Water Polo earned a split in its second mini invite of the season on Thursday at Matador Pool. The Matadors would lose a heartbreaker to Villanova in the early game 11-10 before posting a wire-to-wire victory against McKendree 20-11. CSUN's nightcap win gave head coach Matt Warshaw his 128th career victory, breaking the all-time program record.

CSUN-VILLANOVA RECAP
The Wildcats would jump on the Matadors, scoring four of the game's first goals in the opening period. Freshmen Ashley Strickland and Ella Furuholmen each hit the net for CSUN in the first period but the Matadors looked up at a 4-2 deficit through one period. In the second quarter, the Matadors flipped the script. After an early five-meter penalty gave Villanova a 5-2 edge, the Matadors roared back with a 5-0 run, highlighted by three goals from Sofia Martinez. Her final tally with 2:11 to play put the Matadors ahead by a 7-5 margin, a lead they would take to halftime.

CSUN held an 8-6 lead with 4:29 left in the third quarter, but Villanova drew another five-meter penalty with Riley Hull hitting the net to cut the lead to one at 8-7. CSUN took a lead to the fourth quarter before Anna Painter scored on a 6-on-5 chance to tie the game up. The teams traded goals down the stretch with Kianna Melvin scoring two timely tallies to put CSUN ahead by a slim 10-9 margin with 2:11 to play. However, Hull scored two straight goals, with her second putting Villanova ahead 11-10 with 1:13 left to go. The Matadors had a pair of looks in the closing seconds but could not find the back of the net in the one-goal defeat.

CSUN-MCKENDREE RECAP
The Matadors responded from the tough loss to Villanova with a coast-to-coast triumph against McKendree. The Matadors would take control at the start as freshman Dravucz recorded a hat trick in the first 1:40 of the contest. Strickland would add two goals of her own while Sophia Cooper and Marjorie Krueger each scored as well for a 7-0 lead. McKendree finally got on the scoreboard with two late first quarter tallies, but goalkeeper Erika Staine joined the scoring barrage for an 8-2 advantage. CSUN continued to receive contributions from multiple players in the second quarter with five recording goals. Melvin scored a pair of goals in a 5-2 run while Cooper hit the net on a power play to close the period to put CSUN ahead 14-6 at intermission.

The Matadors put together a strong defensive quarter in the third period, holding the Bearcats to a single tally. Meanwhile, four Matadors scored goals in the third quarter to extend to an 18-7 lead. In the fourth quarter, McKendree outscored CSUN 4-2, but it would not nearly be enough to close the gap. Tallies from Furuholmen and Strickland ended the scoring for CSUN as the Matadors reached 20 goals for the fourth time this season.

NOTES OF THE GAMES

CSUN improves to 11-5 overall after the two results on Thursday.
Warshaw's 128 career wins surpasses Molly Barnes' previous record of 127 she established during the Matadors' first eight years as a water polo program from 2002-09.
Melvin and Martinez finished with three goals each to lead the way against Villanova. In front of the cage, Staine had 13 saves.
Dravucz scored a team-high five goals to go with four assists in the victory over McKendree. Strickland added three goals.
A total of 11 Matadors scored at least one goal versus McKendree.
All three Matador goalkeepers saw action against McKendree. Staine had four saves while Marin Byars finished with two and Kiana Kellner had one.

ACCORDING TO COACH MATT WARSHAW
On McKendree win
"Great bounce back performance after a tough game earlier in the day. Proud to be a Matador and lead this program."

On Villanova game
"Hats off to a good Villanova team. They wanted it more and it showed."

UP NEXT
CSUN continues a busy week of action on Friday at the Convergence Tournament, hosted by Occidental. The Matadors take on Iona at 2 p.m. to begin the tournament while they face host Occidental in the nightcap at 7 p.m.

#GoMatadors