THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On a day when a pre-game ceremony recognized the senior Cal Lutheran women's water polo players, it was a freshman who made the biggest difference in a 10-8 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) victory over Redlands at the Samuelson Aquatics Center today.
In a must-win game for the Regals, it was a second half surge that propelled the Purple and Gold to a two-goal win in a physical game that never saw the teams separated by more than a pair. While CLU netted five combined goals in the third and fourth quarters, the defense executed and held Redlands to just one each frame as the Regals completed the come-from-behind win over the Bulldogs.
Overall, freshman Amanda Jones produced the best game of her collegiate career with a three-goal, two assist performance. Not to be outdone, senior Morgan McCardell added a hat-trick of her own with two drawn ejections and an assist. Adrienne Ingalla scored twice with Kaylee Kastrup and senior Jane Galluzzi tallying one goal apiece to round out the offensive output.
The scoring started with a 5-meter shot from UR early in the opening frame. Minutes later McCardell picked off a UR pass for a steal that led to the first CLU goal of the day. Ingalla found the back of the net after Jordan Card handed the ball off to Kastrup who passed across the pool to Ingalla. Jones then scored her first of the game with 2:57 to play in the first quarter, but with 14 ticks remaining UR equalized.
CLU won the second sprint and scored first when Galluzzi found an open Ingalla in front of the cage. UR used a put-back goal after one of the Bulldogs hit the crossbar to again knot the teams at 3-3. A skip shot on the ensuing possession gave Redlands a 4-3 advantage. Kehau Ai drew a 5-meter shot and Jones converted it at the 3:03 mark to make things even once again. The next two goals belonged to the Maroon and Gray
Trailing 6-4 with 1:58 to play in the second stanza, Jonesassisted Galluzziwho got the home squad back within one at the break.
That goal sparked a 3-0 run as Cal Lutheran outscored Redlands 6-2 over the final 17:58. In the third quarter McCardell scored all three CLU goals, pulling ahead 8-7 entering the final eight minutes of action.
UR tied the game just 49 seconds into the fourth quarter, but it was all Regals to the finish line. Kastrup broke an 8-8 tie when the UR goalie came out of the cage, pushing the ball across the goal line. After a Cal Lutheran timeout, the Violet and Gold again executed their game plan and Jones scored an insurance goal on an assist from Ingalla with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. With less than a minute to play, Kastrup came up with a steal and CLU used up the shot clock. Redlands took a timeout with 23 second to go and at 11 seconds a shot was turned away by senior goalkeeper Kylee Tomasetti to secure the victory.
Tomasetti finished her final home game with five blocks and four steals. Kastrup also finished with four steals and Ai tallied three. Additionally, Kastrup chipped in with a pair of assists to go along with her fourth quarter goal and Ingalla handed out one assist to go join her two goals.
Galluzzi wrapped up her career at the SAC with two steals, a goal and an assist while McCardell filled up the stat sheet with three goals, two drawn ejections and an assist. Shannon Streeter concluded her senior home schedule with a drawn ejection.
For Redlands, Moana Tupulotu and Jaci Cochrane each scored twice and Julie Lupfer recorded 11 saves as the goalie.
Cal Lutheran (10-14, 4-3 SCIAC) rounds out the regular season on Wednesday, April 17 when the Regals travel to Las Flores Park to take on La Verne at 5:00 p.m.
Box Score: CLU 10, UR 8
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