SEASIDE, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team fell 15-5 to Cal State Monterey Bay in the WWPA opener on Friday night at the CSUMB Aquatic Center. The Bobcats record dropped to 1-3 overall.

Ava Faria and Claudette Asenjo were two of five Bobcats with a goal to extend their goal scoring streak to four games to start the season.

Cal State Monterey Bay got off to a hot start and led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and 10-1 at halftime. Asenjo scored the Bobcats first goal of the game at the 4:37 mark of the second quarter.

The Otters led 13-1 late in the third quarter.

UC Merced's best stretch of the game was a 3-0 goal scoring run from the 2:20 mark of the third quarter to the 6:01 mark of the fourth. Makayla Hemphill, Aislyn Sorsky, and Kiryn Wicker each found the back of the net for the Bobcats. After two more Otter goals, Faria beat the final buzzer to give the Bobcats five goals on the night.

Makenzie Royal made five saves in the cage for the Bobcats.

Other notables include two steals each from Hemphill and Wicker. Hemphill recorded an assist.  

Up next, UC Merced will host Santa Clara in the home opener on Sunday, February 22. Opening sprint from the Aquatics Center is scheduled for 1:00pm.