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Kaitlin Rooney vs. Santa Clara

Otters Show Fight But Fall To Ranked Teams In Arizona

| By: By Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)

CSUMB drops decisions to No. 12 Princeton and No. 25 Azusa Pacific at Cross Conference Challenge

TEMPE, Ariz. — Cal State Monterey Bay water polo is fielding its youngest team in years in 2019. They're so young that they've yet to learn they're expected to back down against heavily favored opponents.

Saturday afternoon, the Otters went toe–to–toe with a pair of ranked foes, playing two strong first halves before yielding in losses to No. 25 ranked Azusa Pacific and No. 12 ranked Princeton University at the Cross Conference Challenge hosted by Arizona State. CSUMB fell to APU, 13–7, and to Princeton, 17–6.

The Otters gave both the Cougars and the Tigers all they could handle for a spell. Against Azusa, they roared back from a slow start to pull within one goal at 7–6 through three quarters. Freshman Olivia Centis (Beaverton, Ore./Westview HS) brought the Otters to within two goals one last time midway through the fourth before APU pulled away in the final four minutes.

Against Princeton, the Otters trailed just 9–5 into the third period before the Tigers scored eight of the final nine goal to put the match on ice.

"We came to this tournament knowing we were going to be playing some against some tough teams," said CSUMB Head Coach Emily Schmit. "It's really exciting to watch this team step up and accept the challenge, make adjustments when needed, and keep fighting for four quarters."

Freshman Kaitlin Rooney (Morgan Hill/Presentation HS), and seniors Morgan Tucker (San Diego/Clairemont HS) and Marisa Lovos (Tualatin [Ore.] HS) led the Otter offense with three goals apiece. Lovos scored twice against APU while Tucker and Rooney each scored twice against Princeton.

Senior goalkeeper Shelby Stephens (Stockton/Lincoln HS) made 18 saves, including 13 in the APU match.

The Otters will close play at the Cross Conference Challenge with two more tough matches Sunday. The Otters will meet No. 24 Cal Baptist in their morning match before taking on an Iona College team receiving votes in this week's national Top 25 poll.




 
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