IRVINE, Calif. – The No. 3 Fresno State water polo team opened up competition at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, hosted by UC Irvine, with a 17-5 win over Biola on Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs stay alive in the tournament and will face the winner in tonight's game between UC San Diego and Cal.
Hailey Andress, Kira Anderson and Abbey Simshauser led the 'Dogs with four goals each. Cynthia Rosa, Brooke Ochoa and Susanna Martinez worked the offense with three assists apiece.
All three keepers saw time in the cage on Friday as Paula Nieto Jasny got the start, recording four saves. Ida Tully-Giles took over in the third quarter, finishing with one save. Kelly Villanueva finished out the game with three saves.
Defensively, Megan Cranley led the team with three steals.
How it happened
Biola struck first, but Andress evened the score with 6:12 left in the opening quarter. Biola scored another, then Fresno State broke away with four in-a-row from Martinez, Andress, Simshauser and Ashley Williams. Three total goals were scored by each team in the final minute of the opening quarter as Biola netted one with 50 seconds remaining, then Simshauser and Andress responded to carry a 7-3 lead into the break.
Fresno State outscored Biola 4-0 in the second quarter behind the scoring efforts of Andress, Anderson, and Ella Simone. Anderson scored two in the quarter, one on a 6-on-5 advantage. At the half, the Bulldogs had a 11-3 lead.
Simshauser scored the first goal of the third quarter less than 25 seconds in, and Biola would score their only goal of the period with 6:35 on the clock. Anderson, Kaitlin Howarth and Simshauser rounded out the scoring in the third quarter for a 15-4 lead at the buzzer.
The fourth quarter saw only three goals scored as the Bulldogs outscored Biola 2-1. Anderson and Simone scored the Bulldog goals in the period.
Notable
Kira Anderson scored a career-high four goals in the game. She has notched career-highs in three-straight games.
Anderson led the team in scoring for the first time this season.
Hailey Andress recorded her 13th multi-goal game of the season. She has scored at least one goal in all 14 games played.
Cynthia Rosa had a career-high three assists.
Rosa was 4-of-4 in her sprints.
Ashley Williams had a career-high three drawn exclusions
Kaitlin Howarth made her return to the pool on Friday, missing the last six games for the World Aquatics Championship with Team New Zealand.
Fresno State improves to 3-0 all-time against Biola.
Up Next
No. 3 Fresno State will face either No. 6 Cal or No. 13 UC San Diego tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. PT at Corona del Mar High School. Live scoring is available here.
Fresno State is guaranteed two games on Saturday. More information is available at the Tournament Central.