THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Opening day for the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team was a challenging and educational one for the Regals who faced off with Division I California State University, Northridge and Division II California State University, Monterey Bay inside the Samuelson Aquatics Center.
Beneath gray, cloudy and rainy skies, the Regals fell 13-5 to CSUN before dropping a 12-5 decision in the afternoon to CSUMB.
During the season opener, CLU trailed 5-3 after the first frame and by halftime the Matadors had doubled their lead to 8-4. Out of the break, CSUN continued to pepper the Cal Lutheran goal, scoring five more times, although CLU goalkeeper Bailey Meyer recorded four saves, including a five-meter stop. She also led the way with three steals in the game.
Sam Wulfestieg scored the first goal of the spring for Cal Lutheran and went on to convert a 6-on-5 in the third period to represent the only Regals goal of the second half. Wulfestieg scored twice as did Megan Seeman with Nicole Roed rounding out the offense. KC Brendel led the way with three drawn ejections while Wulfestieg, Maddie Campbell and Kristi McGee each finished with a pair. Both Seeman and Logan Young tallied an assist and Young added two field blocks at the defensive end of the pool.
Making her collegiate debut against CSU Northridge today were Christin Hirn, Victoria Rose Meek and Mackenzie Thomas.
In the afternoon game, CSUMB jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and pushed the advantage to 4-0 before Roed found the back of the net in a man-up situation to get the Violet and Gold on the board. Wulfestieg added a second goal and Roed chipped in another of her own to pull CLU to 6-3 at the break. McGee scored the only goal of the third period for Cal Lutheran and in the fourth frame she notched her second of the game.
Five players assisted on the five goals and McGee, Seeman and Wulfestieg each earned two drawn ejections. Defensively, Seeman grabbed a team-high four steals and both Wulfestieg and Young recorded a field block. Guarding the goal, Meyer tallied three more steals and seven saves.
Cal Lutheran (0-2) will be out of competitive action for two weeks before traveling to Division I Loyola Marymount for a 3:30 p.m. first sprint on Friday, Feb. 17.
Box Score: CSUN 13, CLU 5
Box Score: CSUMB 12, CLU 5
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