DAVIS, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team fell twice on Saturday afternoon at the Aggie Invite hosted by UC Davis, losing 17-5 to Cal State East Bay and 20-4 to #17 University of the Pacific.
Hope Stokes led the Bobcats (1-4) efforts with two goals in each match. Melanie Torres recorded one goal in each contest, while three other Bobcats found the back of the net once on Saturday.
Game One | Cal State East Bay 17, UC Merced 5
The Bobcats fell behind 4-0 to CSUEB in the first quarter but bounced back nicely in the second quarter outscoring the Pioneers 3-2 to remain withing striking distance at intermission. Stokes scored the Bobcats first goal 90 seconds into the second quarter and then Viviana Luna and Piper Ferris followed a couple minutes later. UC Merced trailed 6-3 at the break.
However, the Pioneers broke the game open in the third quarter reeling off five unanswered goals, including two in the first 90 seconds. Torres stopped the Pioneers run with a goal with 1:46 on the clock, but CSUEB scored two more before the third quarter buzzer and carried a 13-4 lead into the final frame.
Cal State East Bay outscored the Bobcats 4-1 in the fourth with Stokes scoring the Bobcats lone goal inside of three minutes.
Alex Andrist led eleven Pioneer goal scorers with five goals.
Carlin Rodelo made five saves in the cage for the Bobcats.
Game Two | #17 University of the Pacific 20, UC Merced 4
The 17th-ranked Pacific Tigers marked the Bobcats highest ranked opponent in program history and just the second nationally-ranked opponent overall. Also of note, Pacific was the Bobcats fourth NCAA Division one opponent. It is their first of six NCAA Division 1 matches this season.
The Tigers scored the first nine goals before Stokes put UC Merced on the board with 2:57 to play in the first half. Pacific scored two more before intermission and led 11-1 at the break. Pacific's Dora Alaksza had a hat trick in the first quarter.
Head coach Johnny Bega's squad scored two of the first three goals in the third quarter with Liberty Hamilton scoring first and then Torres answering a Pacific goal. Pacific then scored the next four goals to take a 16-3 lead. Stokes beat the third quarter buzzer for her second multi-goal game of the day.
It was all Tigers in the fourth quarter as they spread across four goals and shutout the Bobcats to finish off the 20-4 victory. Lily Van Putten finished with a match-high four goals in the win and was one of 13 Tigers to score a goal overall.
Rodelo was credited with six saves for UC Merced. Stokes registered four steals.
Up next, the Bobcats will play #14 UC Davis on Sunday, February 11 at 12:30pm at the Schaal Aquatics Center in Davis, Calif.
