SEASIDE, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team fell 10-5 to Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday afternoon.

The Bobcats (1-1) five goals are the second most goals scored against a NCAA opponent in nine tries.

Claudette Asenjo tallied three goals, while Liberty Hamilton and Aislyn Sorsky scored a goal each. Hamilton also had four steals and three assists.

Hope Stokes had a program-record 14 saves in the cage.

Cal State Monterey Bay, the WWPA Championship Runner-Up a year ago, scored four unanswered goals in their first win of the season and didn't allow a Bobcats goal until ten minutes had gone by. Asenjo scored the goal for the Bobcats and then she deposited another shot into the back of the net a couple minutes later to keep the Bobcats within three goals at 5-2 approaching intermission.

However, CSUMB drew two exclusions and capitalized on both power plays before halftime to take a 7-2 lead.

The Otters made things tough on the Bobcats with a goal 30 seconds into the third quarter. Though Asenjo answered, CSUMB would lead 9-3 heading into the final frame.

Hamilton and Sorsky scored their goals for the Bobcats in the fourth quarter, while CSUMB tacked on one more in the 10-5 result in favor of the home team.

Looking ahead, UC Merced will host Fresno Pacific University in the 2024 home opener on Saturday, February 3 at 11:00am.