CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team earned a dominant 17-3 win over Redlands on day one of the Convergence Tournament on Friday. The Bobcats would fall 16-6 to No. 7 LMU later in the day.
The Bobcats (2-9) 17 goals against Redlands marked their most ever against a NCAA opponent, while LMU was the Bobcats highest ranked NCAA opponent of all-time.
Claudette Asenjo was the Bobcats top goal scorer on the day with five, including scoring a season-high four goals against Redlands. Kiryn Wicker registered a hat trick against Redlands, while Ava Faria combined for three goals. Eleven Bobcats scored at least one goal.
MATCH ONE | UC Merced 17, Redlands 3
UC Merced led 6-0 after the first quarter and 11-0 at halftime in the dominant win. Asenjo scored on the Bobcats first two possessions and then Brey Pierce added one on the third offensive opportunity. Faria deposited a pair of shots into the back of the net towards the end of the quarter to make it 5-0.
Freshmen Sophia Milton and Madison Marion opened the Bobcats second quarter scoring. Wicker and Anna Potter followed before Asenjo beat first half buzzer to complete her hat trick. Amelie Ramirez made all four saves she was tasked with in the first half, while Milton had a field block.
Aislyn Sorsky opened the second half with a power play goal and then Redlands got on the board for the first time when they were back at even strength. The teams alternated goals for the next minute, with Asenjo scoring her fourth. After a five-minute break in scoring, Makayla Hemphill dented the twine to give the Bobcats a 14-2 lead going into the final frame.
UC Merced outscored Redlands 3-1 in the fourth quarter to finish out the victory. Wicker completed her hat trick, while Potter and Hemphill scored their second goal of the contest to round out the 17-3 win.
Ramirez finished with six saves and two steals for UC Merced. Other notables include five steals from Wicker and four steals and two assists from Asenjo.
MATCH TWO | LMU 16, UC Merced 6
Grace Tademy scored on the Bobcats first opportunity, but LMU scored on its first five to create early separation. LMU would lead 7-2 at the end of the first quarter with Sorsky accounting for the Bobcats second goal.
Pierce opened the second quarter with a goal and the score remained 7-3 for over a three minute stretch, however LMU scored three times in the closing minutes of the first half to extend the lead to 10-3 at intermission.
The Bobcats found the back of the net three times in the third quarter but were unable to close the gap as LMU scored four. Asenjo, Faria, and Piper Ferris were the Bobcats third quarter goal scorers.
LMU shutout the Bobcats in the fourth quarter while denting the twine three times to finish their eighth consecutive win and 14th of the year.
Makenzie Royal made three saves and collected two steals for UC Merced.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will play Azusa Pacific and No. 24 CSUN on Saturday, March 7 at De Mandel Aquatics Center in Los Angeles to finish Convergence.
