THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - At the Samuelson Aquatics Center for a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown against Redlands, the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team dropped a devastating 13-12 sudden death overtime decision that spanned nearly twice as long as a regular game.
The last time that CLU needed a golden goal was nearly four years ago to the date in an almost identical scenario. On April 6, 2011, the Regals fell at the paws of the Bulldogs by a 10-9 margin inside of the SAC. Today the teams were never separated by more than two goals.
Despite the loss, it was a memorable day for Jordan Card,who drew a Cal Lutheran record nine ejections while adding a team-leading four goals as well as sharing the team-high with three steals. Amanda Jones, Tatiana McCuaig, Lauren Shackelford and Sam Wulfestieg netted a pair apiece and Logan Young handed out a trio of assists with both Jones and Maddie Campbell dishing out two. In addition, Jones earned four ejections. Defensively, Kaylee Kastrup came up with a huge field block in sudden death for the only one of the day. Five different players notched three steals in a game that the Regals teamed up for a total of 23 takeaways in. Gina Merry finished with eight saves.
The Regals wasted no time getting on the board, taking an early lead with a goal from McCuaig on an assist from Young in the first minute of the game. The Bulldogs, however, were quick to reciprocate before taking a 2-1 lead in a 6-on-4 situation against the Regals. Trailing, Young passed to an open Card for the second CLU goal of the game to pull the squads back even with 3:18 to play in the quarter before déjà vu saw Young and McCuaig repeat the pass and score that started the game, giving CLU a 3-2 lead. Tied at 3-3, Jones drew and ejection and Card converted as the cat-and-mouse battle continued. Ahead by one with under a minute to go in the first frame, the Regals almost added to their lead on smooth passes from Kastrup to Jones to Card, but the near goal was called off. Merry made her first save of the game as the buzzer sounded to preserve the 4-3 advantage for the home team.
The second quarter saw two early goals from the Bulldogs, giving the visiting squad the upper hand again. Jones would respond by scoring back-to-back to goals on an assist from McCuaig, for a behind-the-back goal, and a skip shot that found the back of the net to push the CLU lead to 6-5. After a save from Merry during a few minutes of scoreless action Card punched the seventh goal of the game for the home team on a rebounded shot to give the Violet and Gold a slim 7-6 lead at the break.
With 3:06 in the third, Shackelford got in on the offensive action and recorded the only CLU goal of the quarter. Redlands tacked on two more and the teams went into the final regulation period tied 8-8.
Shackelford won the final sprint, but Redlands put up a crooked number first in the frame. Wulfestieg netted her first of the day and Shackelford scored another to tie things back up at 10-10. A crucial save by Merry would give the Regals the ball with just 12 seconds of play left. Yet an unfortunate missed shot, wide, by the Regals would force OT.
On the first possession of the first overtime, Jones put the ball by the Redlands goalkeeper after Shackelford won another sprint. The Bulldogs promptly bit back, and Merry came up with another important save, sending the teams into the second OT even at 11-11.
Again, CLU earned the first possession and although a UR defensive stand denied CLU a goal on its first attempt of the three minute period, Shackelford bounced back with another score. With 18 seconds remaining the Bulldogs retaliated to force golden goal play.
A field block from Kastrup and tough defensive efforts at both ends of the pool kept things exciting for everyone involved, but it was Redlands' Annie Kinney who put the game in the books four seconds prior to a second SD period.
Cal Lutheran (6-17, 2-4 SCIAC) is on the road at Occidental on Saturday, April 11 for an 11:00 a.m. first sprint.
Box Scores: UR 13, CLU 12 - SD OT
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