Women's Water Polo | January 31, 2015

SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay Women's Water Polo team opened up the Otter Tank for the first time in 2015 on Saturday afternoon with games against Santa Clara University and Fresno Pacific University. The Otters fought hard against SCU, but ultimately faced the loss. However, CSUMB was able to come back and beat FPU in the nightcap.

SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY 10, CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 3 -- BOX SCORE
The Otters opened the Otter Tank against the Broncos of Santa Clara, but struggled to find any offensive momentum in the morning slot of the three-game program. The Broncos got off to a quick start, scoring three times in the first quarter, two of which were on 6–on–5 advantages. The Otters were held scoreless in the first, but were able to put two goals on the board in the 2nd quarter, one each from Bree Hogervorst (Ramona, Calif. / Mountain Valley Academy) and Cami Kellogg (Felton, Calif. / San Lorenzo Valley HS). However, CSUMB trailed by a score of 7-2 at the break.

Tatiana Veloso (Rio de Janiero, Brazil / Colegio Sao Vicente de Paulo) was the bright spot for the Otters in the second half, as she was the only Otter to connect with the back of the cage. Santa Clara would go on to outscore CSUMB 3-1 in the final 16 minutes handing the Otters the 10–3 loss.

Amanda Jennings (Oakley, Calif. / Freedom HS) made 15 saves in the cage for the Otters. Elle Surber lead the Bronco offense with four goals in the win.

FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITY 6, CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 10 -- BOX SCORE
In their second game of the day, the Otters matched up well with the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific. Cal State Monterey Bay came out and scored the first two goals of the game, from the hands of Samantha Whitecotton (Roseville, Calif./Woodcreek HS) and Ashton Palmer (Salt Lake City, Ut./Cottonwood HS), who would go on to score two and three goals in the game, respectively. The Otters outscored the Sunbirds 4–2 in the second quarter by way of sharing the ball as four different Otters scored a goal in the period.

CSUMB's defense was stong at the start of the second half, as they held FPU scoreless in the third quarter thanks to five saves by goalkeeper Jennings, part of 13 for the game. The Otters took advantage of a penalty shot goal and an even-strength goal by Adrianna Craft (Belmont, Mich./Rockford Senior HS), giving CSUMB an 8–3 lead heading into the final eight minutes of play. A power play goal and another penalty shot goal was enough to close out the game, giving the Otters thier second win of the season by a score of 10–6.

Palmer led the Otter attack with a hat trick while Craft, Whitecotton, and Kellogg each had two scores in the win. Mallory Rettig and Emily Marr each found the back of the net twice for the Sunbirds.

Cal State Monterey Bay will be back in action Saturday, February 7 when they battle Cal State Bakersfield and Fresno Pacific in Fresno, Calif.