THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On an unseasonably warm Thursday afternoon, the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team battled Division I Villanova (Pa.) at the Samuelson Aquatics Center, falling 11-7 after a strong start.

The lone scoring play in the first frame came from Nikki Roed as CLU opened an early 1-0 lead. During the second stanza, Villanova knotted things up on the first possession of the period, but a Nicole Guerriero goal promptly put the Regals back on top. She netted her second of the game on an open goal. Nova netted back-to-back goals to knot things at 3-3 with just over a minute to play in the opening half. The visiting squad added one more to take a 4-3 advantage at the break.

Unfortunately for the Violet and Gold, Villanova used its second quarter momentum to steal the win, outscoring CLU 7-4 in the final 16 minutes of action.

Roed paced the group today by notching a hat-trick, scoring three times on five attempts with Guerriero scoring twice ad KC Brendel and Megan Seeman each adding a goal. Victoria Rose Meek drew a team-high three ejections while handing out an assist and Seeman finished with a pair of each. Guerriero, Maddie Campbell and Kristi McGee all added an assist as well.

Bailey Meyer knocked down nine shots as the CLU goalkeeper. The three steals today came from Guerriero, Seeman and Logan Young.

Cal Lutheran (4-6) travels to the East Coast tonight for a five-game weekend at the Connecticut College Invitational. CLU dives in against Iona (N.Y.) twice and Utica (N.Y.) once on Saturday and follows with a doubleheader against the host Camels on Sunday.

Box Score: NOVA 11, CLU 7
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