THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - After jumping out to a 7-0 lead and allowing just two goals to Caltech, the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team cruised by the Beavers, 16-2, on a gorgeous sunny Wednesday afternoon Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) contest during spring break.
Within the first four minutes of the contest, Jordan Card already had a hat-trick to single handedly outscore CIT and set the tone for a game that was entirely in favor of the home Regals. The first Caltech crooked number came on a second stanza five-meter shot, but was quickly negated in a game that everyone suited up saw action during and the visiting group was kept at bay until the final minute of regulation.
A share of the team lead for goals went to Card and Kayla Wagenhofer who netted three apiece while Bailey Likewise, Amanda Jones and Logan Young each scored twice. Young dished out a team-high three assists while Erin Cunefare, Tatiana McCuaig and Lauren Shackelford each handed out two. The three drawn ejections came from three different players to round out the offensive highlights. Defensively, Card and Young each came away with three steals and Likewise also had a multi-steal game with two. Gina Merry made four saves in the 32 minutes of action she saw today.
Card had a hand in each of the first four goals, netting the first, assisting Maddie Campbell on the second, scoring the third on a pass from Campbell and capping off the run with another. From six meters out Younggot in on the action and Jonesfollowed suit to push the lead to 6-0. Likewise got in on the action to close out the quarter and the home team took a 7-0 advantage.
Following the first CIT goal of the game with 2:34 to play in the second, Likewise and Bailey Mena teamed up on the ensuing possession to negate the Caltech score as the teams exchanged goals in the period.
Out of the break, CLU found the back if the net three times. Maggie Kurzeka launched a line drive shot to the back of the net, which opened the gap to 10 goals at 11-1. Caltech took one of its few shots at the 1:24 mark and in a man-down situation Merry tuned it away to keep the Regals on top by double figures.
In the final frame, Wagenhofer was on fire with a hat-trick of her own. Likewise added her second of the day and Cindy Delic capped off theproductive day for CLU.
Cal Lutheran (6-15, 2-2 SCIAC) is back on the road this Saturday, April 4 when the Regals travel to Whittier for an 11:00 a.m. first sprint against Whittier.
Box Scores: CLU 16, CIT 2
CLU Twitter: https://twitter.com/clusports
Follow WWP: https://twitter.com/regalspolo
CLU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clusports
CLU Instagram: http://instagram.com/clusports#
