SAN DIEGO, Calif. - On the final day of the Aztec Invitational hosted by San Diego State University, the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team wrapped up its weekend with a two games against Division I foes. The Regals took on Princeton (N.J.) in game one, falling 16-3 before taking on Bucknell (Penn.) and nearly topping the Bison at 11-8.
Cal Lutheran couldn't overcome a fast start in game one against Princeton. The Tigers raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first quarter and despite goals from Katelyn Dembowski, Amanda Jones and Tatiana McCuaig, the Regals couldn't overcome the initial deficit.
Gina Merry started in goal for the Regals and finished with eight saves while KC Brendel had four steals against the Tigers. Fellow Regals Hannah Andrews, Jordan Card and Sydney Foster also chipped defensively with each recording at least one steal.
In game two, Cal Lutheran had early some success in the first quarter and trailed Bucknell 4-3 thanks to goals from Brendel, Card and Adrienne Ingalla.
Each team exchanged a goal in the second quarter before Bucknell took a 9-5 advantage after outscoring Cal Lutheran 4-1 in the third period.
Cal Lutheran out played Bucknell in the fourth quarter and had three goals to Bisons' two but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback.
Merry again finished with eight saves in front of the net for the Regals. Card led CLU with three goals while Ingalla had two and Brendel, McCuaig and Sara Simpson each had one.
Defensively, Ingalla had three steals to lead the team while Brendel and McCuaig tallied two against the Bison.
Cal Lutheran (4-14) will be back in action on Wednesday, March 19, when it opens Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play at home against Occidental. The game will get underway at 5:00 p.m. at the Samuelson Aquatics Center.
Game 1: PU 16 CLU 3 (Unavailable at Release)
Game 2: BU11 CLU 8 (Unavailable at Release)
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