MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team fell 12-5 to Concordia University Irvine on Friday night at the Aquatics Center.

Claudette Asenjo led the Bobcats (2-14, 0-3) offense with two goals, while Piper Ferris had two points with a goal and an assist. Tori Valdez and Kiryn Wicker also found the back of the net.

Concordia University Irvine led wire-to-wire with its first goal coming at the 4:56 mark of the first quarter. CUI would score four unanswered goals before Asenjo put the Bobcats on the board late in the period. CUI earned a penalty shot as time expired and held a 5-1 lead going into the second.

CUI extended its lead to 7-1 a few minutes later, but Wicker got one of those goals back for the Bobcats with a penalty and helped anchor the defense to keep the Golden Eagles in check the rest of the quarter. The score remained 7-2 at intermission.

A strong third quarter from CUI created more separation as the Golden Eagles tacked on four more goals and shut out the Bobcats in the period to build its lead to 11-2.

After another CUI score to start the fourth, Asenjo and the Bobcats ended the match with three unanswered goals in the 12-5 loss. Asenjo scored a penalty at the 5:01 mark, while Valdez and Ferris scored from distance on back-to-back possessions inside of three minutes.

Makenzie Royal tied her career-high with 12 saves, matching her saves total from the LIU match. She added a steal to support her third straight match with double figure saves.

Up next, UC Merced will host Biola on Saturday, March 21. Opening sprint from the Aquatics Center is set for 1:00pm.