FRESNO, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team (2-19, 0-8) dropped its regular season finale in overtime, 10-9 to Fresno Pacific on Wednesday night. FPU scored the only overtime goal at the 2:48 mark of the first overtime period.
Claudette Asenjo and Kiryn Wicker led the Bobcats with three goals apiece. Asenjo, who notched her third hat trick of the year, scored her third goal with 31 seconds left to help force overtime. Makenzie Royal tallied a career-high 15 saves on the night, the most by any Bobcat in a WWPA match.
The Bobcats started hot and got goals from four different Bobcats in the opening five minutes to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Wicker opened the scoring a minute into the match and then Ava Faria made it 2-0 60 seconds later. Makayla Hemphill deposited a shot into the back of the net at the 5:03 mark, while Asenjo capped the 4-0 goal-scoring run with 3:15 left. FPU got two goals back late in the quarter, but Asenjo converted a penalty shot to end the frame with a 5-2 UC Merced lead.
The Bobcats were unable to dent the twine in the second quarter but still held on to a 5-4 lead at halftime.
A quick third quarter goal by FPU tied the game 5-5. The Sunbirds took their first lead of the game at 4:59 and doubled their advantage to 7-5 with 3:15 left in the period, capping a 5-0 goal scoring run. Wicker ended the Bobcats 14-minute scoring drought on a power play goal to make it a one-score game heading into the fourth.
Wicker buried a penalty shot two minutes into the final frame to tie the game, 7-7, also completing her hat trick. FPU regained the lead on its next possession but UC Merced was able to pull even again at 8-8 with Hemphill's second goal coming with 3:17 left. FPU jumped right back in front and carried its 9-8 lead into the final minute. Out of a Bobcats timeout, Asenjo buried a lob shot from distance to tie the game for the third time in the fourth quarter with 31 seconds left. Royal and the Bobcats defense stood strong to force overtime.
FPU struck 12 seconds into overtime, which would end up being the only offense they needed to win the game. The Bobcats had multiple opportunities to tie the game again but couldn't find the back of the net in either overtime period.
Sophia Milton and Hemphill finished the match with a career-high five steals and a career-high four steals, respectively. Asenjo collected three steals.
While the regular season comes to a close, UC Merced will compete in exhibition matches at the WWPA Championships April 10-12 at William Woolett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, Calif. The Bobcats will play their first exhibition on Friday, April 10 at 9:00am against the WWPA West regular season winner.
