Women's Water Polo | March 06, 2015

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- For its first games in two weeks, the Cal State Monterey Bay Women's Water Polo team traveled to Claremont for the Convergence Tournament. Day one saw matches againt Whittier College and University of Redlands, and after a tough 9–11 loss to Whittier, the Otters responded with a 15–8 win over Redlands, to come out of day one with a split.

GAME 1 | WHITTIER COLLEGE 11, CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 9
Cami Kellogg (Felton, Calif. / San Lorenzo Valley HS) got the Otters on the board early in the first quarter with a goal at the 7:35 mark. However, the Poets responded to tie the game at 1–1 with 6:42 left to play in the opening quarter. The Otters were outscored 1–3 after the first Whittier goal, to trail 2–4. The Poets would build thier lead to three goals after the second quarter, outscoring the Otters 2–1.

CSUMB tacked on two goals in the third quarter, but found themselves trailing 5–10 heading into the final quarter. While the fourth quarter was the best offensively for the Otters, four goals were not enough to climb out of the five goal deficit as CSUMB was faced with the 9–11 loss to open the weekend.

Tatiana Veloso (Rio de Janiero, Brazil) and Samantha Whitecotton (Roseville, Calif. / Woodcreek HS) led the Otter offense with two goals each. Amanda Jennings (Oakley, Calif. / Freedom HS) recorded 20 saves in the loss. For the Poets, Angelica Hernandez contributed four goals, while Isabella Gorrocino had a hat trick in the win.

GAME 2 | CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 15, UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS 8
Veloso got things started for the Otters in their second game of the day, to tie the score at 1–1 with her goal at the 5:22 mark of the first quarter. The Otters and Lady Bulldogs were knotted at three goals apiece after the first eight minutes of play. The Otters were able to outscore Redlands in the second quarter, thanks to a last–second goal by Kellogg to give CSUMB the 6–5 edge going into halftime.

Monterey Bay exploded offensively coming out of the break, scoring six times from six different players, giving the Otters a 12–6 lead heading into the final eight minutes. The six goal lead proved to be enough as the Otters scored three more times in fourth quarter moving to the 15–8 win. 

Veloso and Kellogg each tallied hat tricks in the win, while Amanda Kitchen (Albany, Ore. / West Albany HS) and Kylie Wheelock (Clovis HS) each contributed two goals in the victory. For the Lady Bulldogs, Deandra Van Houten, Taylor Christie, and Tricia Bannister each netted two goals for Redlands.

CSUMB moves to 3–10 on the season. Monterey Bay will be back in action Saturday, March 7, for day two of the Convergence Tournament when they face Claremont–Mudd–Scripps (1 p.m.) and Pomona–Pitzer (6:20 p.m.).