Otters Return From Long Roadtrip To Take A Thriller From SSU

March 10, 2019 | By: By Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)

Kaitlin Rooney scores twice, has four assists as Otters rally past Seawolves, 8–7

SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay water polo team finally returned to the friendly confines of the Otter Tank Sunday after a seemingly endless roadtrip that featured 13 matches in 37 days over a span a more than 2,600 miles. The Otters found the home cooking to their liking as they took a thrilling 8–7 win from Western Water Polo Association rival Sonoma State.

The win was the fifth in six matches for CSUMB, which improved to 7–8 on the season. Sonoma fell to 5–8 with Sunday's loss.

Freshman Kaitlin Rooney (Morgan Hill/Presentation HS) led a balanced Otter effort with a pair of goals, four assists and four steals. Senior Marisa Lovos (Tualatin [Ore.] HS) added three goals and two helpers.

The Otters and Seawolves traded goals for the first 15 minutes until JoJo Williams scored on the power play in the final minute of the half to give Sonoma a 6–5 lead at intermission. The teams exchanged lightening quick strikes to open the second half, with Sarah Smith (Cypress HS) scoring 43 seconds after the restart before Williams restored Sonoma's 1–goal lead just 17 seconds later.

The Otters wouldn't tie the match until Olivia Centis (Beaverton, Ore./Westview HS) scored early in the fourth. Rooney added what proved to be the match winner midway through the final quarter with a brilliant cross cage effort on the power play.

The match was far from over at that point, however, as the teams fought to the final horn. Sonoma earned a late power play when Smith was ejected with 11 seconds remaining, but Williams' attempt from the slot to send the match to overtime rang off the crossbar as the final horn sounded.

"We got ourselves into a bit of a rough patch in the second and third quarters when both primary center defenders fouled out," said CSUMB Head Coach Emily Schmit. "However, the creativity and adaptability of this team showed and we were able to pull out the win."

Its long roadtrip now a memory, the Otters will return to home action Saturday against WWPA foe Fresno Pacific University. First sprint is scheduled for 1 p.m.

GO OTTERS!

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