ORANGE, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team came up short on Friday night, falling 10-6 to Chapman University at Allred Aquatics Center.

Despite the loss, the Bobcats (2-19) exploded for six goals in the fourth quarter matching their 2024 high for most goals in a frame.

The Bobcats were shutout for the first three quarters before getting in a groove over the last eight minutes.

Hope Stokes scored first for the Bobcats at the 5:58 mark in the fourth and was one of two multi-goal scorers along with Liberty Hamilton. Aislyn Sorsky and Piper Ferris also recorded a goal for UC Merced.

Stokes played the first 24 minutes in the cage before moving to the field for the ending. The Merced, Calif., native tallied 12 saves and five steals while allowing just six goals. She was stellar early on, notching five saves and a steal in the first quarter to keep the game close and the Bobcats trailed just 1-0 after one.

Chapman was able to spread across three goals in the second quarter to go up 4-0 at halftime, however none of the goals came within two and a half minutes of each other.

Chapman's Kendall Pappan, who scored two of the Panthers three goals in the second quarter, scored two more shortly after the break to help her team extend their advantage to 6-0 heading into the fourth.

The Bobcats offense got going from there, but Chapman also had their highest scoring quarter of the match scoring four more goals to counteract the Bobcats six in the period.

UC Merced's fourth quarter goals came from Stokes (5:58), Hamilton (4:56), Hamilton (4:15), Sorsky (1:51), Stokes (:50), and Ferris (:05).

Karla Hernandez was in the cage for the Bobcats in the fourth quarter and registered her first career save.

The Bobcats six goals overall marked the most goals in a true road match since March 1 at Occidental.

Up next, UC Merced will play at Whittier College on Saturday, March 30. Saturday's match is scheduled for 4:00pm at Lillian Slade Aquatics Center.