April 11, 2009

SEASIDE, Calif. – In its final game this year at the Otter Tank, the Cal State Monterey Bay women's water polo team fell in a heartbreaker to UC Santa Cruz, 8-7, on Saturday.  Sophomore #Chloe McRae# led the way with four goals for CSUMB.

The Otters got on the board first with a goal by McRae to take their only lead of the game.

UCSC tied the score 13 minutes later and took a 3-1 lead with two minutes remaining of the first quarter. 

McRae scored two more goals to tie the game once again, 3-3. 

The Banana Slugs answered with two goals of their own to extend the gap to 5-3. 

Both teams added a goal, giving UCSC a 6-4 lead into intermission.

The Otters opened the second half with McRae's final goal of the game, but the Banana Slugs answered with back-to-back goals, 8-5. 

CSUMB's defense stepped up in the final quarter, allowing no goals, as senior #Kellie Koorndyk#'s two goals closed the gap to 8-7.  Unfortunately, the Otters ran out of time. 

The Otters compete in the Women's Water Polo Association (WWPA) championships on April 23-26 at Santa Clara University.

Scoring by Quarter:

Cal State Monterey Bay:  2 - 2 - 1 - 2 = 7
UC Santa Cruz:  3 - 3 - 2 - 0 = 8

CSUMB Goals: #Chloe McRae# (4), #Kellie Koorndyk# (2), #Alex Vespremi# (1)
UCSC Goals:  Annie Keating (3), Chelsea de Goede (2), Nila Ward (1), Mollie Chadwick (1), Heather Stewart (1)
CSUMB Saves: #Kristen Prosser# (3 saves), #Shelby Carrillo# (6 saves)
UCSC Saves: Courtney Cox (8 saves)