THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The first home game of 2016 for the Cal Lutheran women's water polo season pitted the Regals against Azusa Pacific, falling 10-6, before the Violet and Gold dove in against Grove City (Pa.) for a nightcap in which the home team prevailed for its first win of the season, 16-2.
APU def. CLU 10-6
A scoreless first four minutes turned into a 2-0 APU lead at the first break. A little less than half way through the second stanza, the Regals put up a crooked number when Kristi McGeefound the back of the net, cutting the deficit in half to 2-1. Another Cougars score push the gap back to a pair before a late man-up situation allowed CLU to draw up a play, which was executed with McGee again adding to the tally on a pass from Amanda Jones.
Tied 3-3 in the third after Jones converted a goal Tatiana McCuaiggave CLU its first lead of the day at the 3:37 mark of the third. The advantage was short lived as APU knotted things back up and promptly took a 5-4 lead. Each team missed a five -meter shot in the quarter.
Going into the final frame and separated by one, Azusa Pacific pulled away just over midway through and stole the win to go 2-0 after defeating Grove City 14-3 earlier in the day.
CLU looked to Jones and McGee for two goals apiece and a pair of assists from both McGee and Megan Seeman. McGee, Mardell Ramirez and Sam Wulfestieg each drew two ejections as well. Defensively, McGee earned three steals while Seeman grabbed a pair and Jones notched the only field block of the day on the first APU attempt of the game. Gina Merry finished with 13 saves and a steal.
CLU def. GC 16-2
The Regals showcased their offense in the first quarter, exploding for eight unanswered goals for a commanding 8-0 lead, never looking back en route to the win. Although the teams exchanged goals in the second stanza, it was nearly a shutout at halftime for CLU as the long GC goal grazed a Regals defender before finding the back of the net. McGee scored a first quarter hat-trick before the starting six handed the ball over to numerous Cal Lutheran reserves who continued to execute at both ends of the pool.
Overall, 22 players jumped into the pool for the Violet and Gold with Jacie Fukada, Nicole Guerriero, Bailey Meyer and Morgan Towner each making her collegiate debut. Towner led all players with four steals and Fukada added one.
Kayla Wagenhofer matched McGee with three goals to lead the way for the Regals while both Ramirez and KC Brendel scored twice on just a pair of shots apiece. McCuaig and Wagenhofer each supplied two assists and the three drawn ejections came from three different players. McGee, Wagenhofer, Bailey Likewise and Maggie Kurzeka all grabbed two steals on a day when CLU finished with 18. Merry and Meyer split halves as the goalie, recording eight and four saves, respectively.
Cal Lutheran (1-6) returns to the Samuelson Aquatics Center on Friday, Feb. 26 for first of three days hosting the Second Annual Tina Finali Invitational, which is also the Ninth Annual CLU Tournament. CLU will play six games over the weekend beginning with Siena (N.Y.) at 8:00 a.m.
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