March 13, 2011

SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay women's water polo team held on for a hard-fought 12-11 victory over Harvard University on Sunday at the Otter Tank.

The Otters dominated throughout the first half, leading by as much as four goals at one point.  Senior #Chloe McRae# scored four of her six goals in the opening quarter to give the Otters a 5-3 advantage.  Both teams posted three goals in the second quarter as CSUMB held a 8-6 lead at the break.

Harvard outscored the Otters 3-1 in the third quarter with Aisha Price scoring two of the goals.

McRae opened the fourth quarter with a lob that found the back of the net to give CSUMB a 10-9 advantage.  

Harvard answered two and half minutes later when Price's hard shot sailed past CSUMB's goalie #Christina Vournas#.

Local Monterey High standout Devan Kennifer gave the Crimson their only lead of the game with a goal with 1:26 remaining to make it 11-10.  

McRae once again came up big for the Otters, clinching a double hat-trick with her sixth goal to knot it at 11.  Junior #Alex Tyrell# scored the game winner in the final 34th second.  

Vournas recorded 16 saves and one assist in the game.  Along with her six goals, McRae nabbed four field blocks. #Nikki Smart# finished with two goals.  #Katie Sowul#, #Julie Cooper#, #Ali Woollett# joined Tyrell with a goal each.

On Saturday, CSUMB dropped two games at Cal State East Bay.  The Otters fell 10-4 to the Pioneers before dropping a heartbreaker to Fresno Pacific, 9-8.

The Otters travel to Rohnert Park on Tuesday, March 15 for a match-up against the Seawolves of Sonoma State and George Washington.