THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On the second day of the Second Annual Tina Finali Invitational, the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team dropped a pair against Division I Cal State Bakersfield, 9-5, and Division II opponent Fresno Pacific, 11-6, at Samuelson Aquatics Center on Saturday afternoon.
CSUB def. CLU 9-5
In the first game of the day, the Regals squared off against the Roadrunners, who poured in 34 games in two games on Friday. Bakersfield took an early 2-0 lead after the first quarter before senior Maggie Kurzeka put CLU on the board to start the second. The Violet and Gold would add two more in the period, on goals from Mardell Ramirez and Darby Schuett, but the Roadrunners high-octane offense scored four to take a 6-3 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Megan Seeman and Tatiana McCuaig each scored for CLU but the Roadrunners responded at every turn and held on to a 9-5 victory.
McCuaig led the Regals with five steals while Gina Merry notched three, and Kristi McGee and Logan Young added a pair apiece. Young recorded the lone field block and Nicole Roed and Kayla Wagenhofer tallied one assist. Merry finished with eight saves in front of the goal.
FPU def. CLU 8-7
In the second game of the afternoon, the Regals battled tight with Fresno Pacific, but were unable to complete a late comeback attempt. After being tied at halftime 5-5, the Sunbirds scored four in the second half and held off CLU for the win. Amanda Jones completed her hat-trick with her third goal of the game to cut the Sunbird leads to two, 8-6, and moments later Roed scored a goal to cut the deficit to one with 4:19 remaining. Fresno Pacific, however, capitalized on their next opportunity to take a 9-7 lead and put the game out of reach.
Sam Wulfestieg, McGee and Lauren Shackelford joined Jones and Roed as the other Regals with goals in the game while McGee and Young notched two steals apiece. Jones also recorded three drawn ejections to lead CLU. Merry was strong once again in front of the net, racking up 12 saves.
Cal Lutheran (3-8) will conclude the Tina Finali Invitational tomorrow with games against Santa Clara at 10:30 a.m. and Villanova at 2:15 p.m. inside Samuelson Aquatics Center.
Tournament Central: Second Annual Tina Finali Invitational
Box Score: CSUB 9, CLU 5
Box Score: FPU 9, CLU 7
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