January 22, 2011

FRESNO, Calif. - The Cal State Monterey Bay women's water polo team came out on top on Saturday afternoon with two victories. The Otters opened with a 17-10 win over Azusa Pacific and followed it with a 15-4 win against host Fresno Pacific.

Junior #Nikki Smart# led the Otters with 12 goals and half a dozen steals while sophomore Jackie Walters added another six goals to the total. Sophomore #Christina Vournas# recorded 22 saves in the cage.

GAME 1: CSUMB 17, APU 10
The Otters fought hard to have a one goal lead by half at 7-6, then came out strong in the third quarter starting with a sprint won by Smart.

The Otters dominated in the 3rd quarter by scoring six goals with Vournas only allowing one goal for the entire quarter pushing the lead into the fourth quarter to 12-7.

The Cougars came out hard in the fourth, but where unable to make a comeback.

Cal State Monterey Bay: 5-2-6-4=17
Azusa Pacific: 4-2-1-3=10

CSUMB Goals: #Nikki Smart# (6), #Jackie Walters# (3), #Meagan Bebb# (2), #Chloe McRae# (1), #Katie Sowul# (1), #Julie Cooper# (1), #Tanya Mullen# (1).

Saves: #Christina Vournas# (13)

GAME 2: CSUMB 15, FPU 4
The Otters where able to build off of the momentum made in the first game and jumped to a 7-1 lead in the first quarter and never lost the advantage of the game. The Sunbirds kept the Otters to one goal in the fourth quarter but it wasn't enough.

Cal State Monterey Bay:  7-4-3-1=15
Fresno Pacific: 1-0-2-1=4

CSUMB Goals: #Nikki Smart# (6), #Jackie Walters# (3), #Chloe McRae# (2), #Alex Tyrrell# (2), #Julie Cooper# (1), #Ali Woollett# (1).

Saves: #Christina Vournas# (9), #Paige Robinson# (5).

CSUMB heads up to the Spartan Invitational hosted by San Jose State next weekend where they will take one three Division I nationally ranked teams.