SAN DIEGO - The top-seeded Fresno State water polo team defeated No. 8 seed Cal Baptist 14-9 in the first round of the Golden Coast Conference Championships on Friday at the Aztec Aquaplex. The Bulldogs make their return to the GCC Championships semifinal round, and will face the No. 4 seeded San Diego State tomorrow at 4 p.m. PT.
The 'Dogs were led in scoring by Jillian Schultz as the senior scored four goals in the win. Brooke Ochoa added three scores, Isabella Sonkoly scored two, and Hailey Andress, Daphne Guevremont, Ella Simone, Kaitlin Howarth and Elisa Grim scored one apiece. Andress spread the offense with a game-high four assists, finishing with five total points.
Cynthia Rosa stayed hot in the sprints, again winning all four for the 'Dogs in the win. Paula Nieto Jasny and Kelly Villanueva both saw time in the cage. Nieto Jasny recorded eight saves.
How it happened
CBU got out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Bulldogs responded quickly with back-to-back goals by Andress and Sonkoly. Grim scored just 30 seconds after Sonkoly to give Fresno State a 3-2 lead with 3:56 remaining in the first quarter. The Bulldogs would not trail again in the game.
Ten total goals were scored in the opening quarter, with Fresno State closing out the opening period with a 6-4 lead. Ochoa scored two of her three goals in the opening period.
Defense battled for the 'Dogs in the second, holding CBU to just one goal in the second quarter. The offense scored four goals to put Fresno State ahead 10-5 at the half.
Fresno State again held the Lancers to just one goal in the third quarter, scored in the final 10 seconds before the buzzer. The Bulldogs pulled away with three goals by three different scorers to lead 13-6 at the end of the period.
CBU won the fourth, 3-1, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit that Fresno State created.
Up Next
Fresno State will face the No. 4 seed and host team San Diego State in the semifinal round on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT. Live stream is available here.