THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Inaugural Tina Finali Invitational, the Eighth Annual Cal Lutheran Invitational, featured top competition from Division, I, II, III and NAIA teams at the Samuelson Aquatics Center with a full Saturday slate being played at Oaks Christian High School as well. The host Regals had a tough schedule and despite the 0-5 record, the team grew and improved throughout the weekend.
CLU opened with 12-4 and 10-4 losses to Azusa Pacific and CSU Bakersfield, respectively, on Friday.
Providing goals in the weekend opener against APU were Jordan Card, Kaylee Kastrup, Lauren Shackelford and Kayla Wagenhofer with Card, Erin Cunefare, Tatiana McCuaig and Logan Young providing the assists. Young also led the way at the defensive end of the pool with four steals while McCuaig and Amanda Jones each provided a field block and Gina Merry notched 15 saves as the CLU goalie.
The second game on the first day saw a pair of goals from Bailey Mena with both Jones and Shackelford finding the back of the net as well. Bailey Likewise handed out a pair of the assists and Card and McCuaig chipped in one apiece as well. Card and Sam Wulfestieg each drew three ejections for the Regals against CSUB. A strong defensive unit shined with five total field blocks, two coming from Jones. Merry added nine more saves to her early season total in the loss.
Saturday morning started with the closest outcome of the weekend for the Violet and Gold in an 11-9 loss to Siena (N.Y.). After a ceremony to honor Tina Finali, with Christina Messer ('12) in attendance, that featured rose petals sprinkled atop the still water, the Regals dove back in for another game, facing CSU Bakersfield. The outcome went in favor of the visiting team by an 18-5 margin.
Cal Lutheran scored in every quarter against Siena and led 6-5 at halftime, behind four goals from Card. In a tale of two halves, the Regals came up short. Card paced the offense with five goals and four others scored as well, including the first of the weekend from Maggie Kurzeka. Young and McCuaig had two assists apiece and Card also drew three ejections. Again, showing strong defensive play, CLU combined for 17 steals, led by three apiece from McCuaig, Shackelford and Young, with Merry notching eight saves.
In the afternoon, five different players scored for Cal Lutheran with Maddie Campbell joining Card, Kurzeka, McCuaig and Shackelford who each added to her weekend tally. Jones diched out a pair of assists and Card drew three ejections. Both Kurzeka and Wulfestieg recorded a field block and Merry added two steals to her 14 saves.
To close out the weekend, the Violet and Gold dove in for one more, though two were scheduled. An 11-4 decision went to Division I Loyola Marymount under sunny skies in the afternoon, but the game against Villanova to conclude the tournament was cancelled due to repeated thunder and lightning strikes in the area.
Against the Lions, Shackelford chipped in with a goal, a steal and two field blocks. Campbell, Kastrup and Jones tallied the other three goals in the contest. Kastrup and Young earned two steals apiece and Merry notched nine saves.
Cal Lutheran (1-8) returns to action at the Claremont Convergence on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 for four games.
Results: 2015 Tinal Finali Invitational Results
Tournament Central: 2015 Tina Finali Invitational
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