THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - For the first time in four years the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team topped Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, earning a decisive 14-7 victory this afternoon at the Samuelson Aquatics Center in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play.
CMS won the opening sprint, but CLU struck first to spark a run of four consecutive goals on as many possessions with each side netting a pair. The Regals added two more to take a 4-2 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter and never looked in the rearview mirror.
After a quick break, Cal Lutheran got out to the first offensive possession of the second stanza as Mardell Ramirez won the sprint and the Violet and Gold opened a 7-3 halftime lead.
Out of the intermission the Regals continued to control the momentum and numerous contributors tagged up the stat sheet on a day when nine players scored and seven handed out at least one assist, the team combined for eight steals and seven drawn ejections.
Nicole Roed, a freshman two-sport athlete at Cal Lutheran, paced the Regals with a hat-trick while senior Tatiana McCuaig provided two goals, a stela and endless leadership.
Additionally, Kristi McGee and Sam Wulfestieg each tallied two goals, Amanda Jones handed out six assists and goalkeeper Gina Merry earned a pair of steals while recording 10 saves. Jones also drew two ejections and scored once while McGee and Logan Young each dished out a pair of assists. Ramirez went on to win each sprint in the second half and chipped in with a goal, an assist and a steal. Nicole Guerriero and Maggie Kurzeka had solid showings with a goal, an assist and a drawn ejection apiece. The final goal of the day came from Young who also notched a steal.
Cal Lutheran (9-13, 1-1 SCIAC) returns to the Samuelson Aquatics Center for a final spring break game on Saturday, March 26 against La Verne at 11:00 a.m.
Box Score: CLU 14, CMS 7
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