LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team fell 11-8 to Azusa Pacific and 12-2 to No. 24 CSUN on Saturday at the Convergence Tournament.

Ava Faria and Kiryn Wicker led eight Bobcat (2-11) goal scorers with two goals apiece.  

Match One | Azusa Pacific 11, UC Merced 8

The first quarter was a defensive battle as APU shut out the Bobcats, but were limited to just two goals of their own. APU doubled its advantage to 4-0 midway through the second quarter before the Bobcats got on the board with a Wicker goal at the 2:06 mark. The Cougars added one more before intermission and led 5-1 at the break.

Sophia Milton got the scoring started on the first possession of the third quarter with a powerplay goal. After two more APU goals, Claudette Asenjo found the back of the net at the 4:20 mark to extend her goal scoring streak to 12 games. APU responded to make it 8-3, however Tori Valdez got the goal back for the Bobcats to go into the fourth down 8-4.

APU built its lead to 10-5 early in the fourth quarter with Breyenne Pierce scoring the goal for the Bobcats. Faria then gave the Bobcats a chance to rally with back-to-back goals to bring her team within three with three minutes still to go. Wicker scored with two minutes left to make it a two-goal game, 10-8. The Bobcats defense managed another stop, but offensive possessions were running out and the Bobcats weren't able to score again. APU scored a goal at the buzzer to finish the Cougars 11-8 victory.

Makenzie Royal was in goal for the Bobcats and made seven saves. She also added a steal and an assist.

Faria had two assists and a steal to support her multi-goal outing.

Match Two | No. 24 CSUN 12, UC Merced 2

CSUN led 3-0 after the first quarter and 5-0 at halftime.

Aislyn Sorsky got the Bobcats on the board to start the third quarter and Makayla Hemphill scored a goal at the 6:12 mark to make it a 6-2 game, but the Bobcats were shut out the rest of the way. CSUN scored three more third quarter goals and then added three more in the fourth quarter to finish off their perfect 4-0 weekend at Convergence.

Amelie Ramirez tallied seven saves and a steal for UC Merced.

Sorsky and Hemphill notched two steals each.

Looking ahead, UC Merced will host No. 13 UC Davis at the Aquatics Center on Saturday, March 14 at 12:00pm.