April 22, 2007
Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific women's water polo team fell to No. 17 ranked Santa Clara in their home finale on Sunday, April 22nd at Chris Kjeldsen Pool.
With the loss, the Tigers fall to 5-24 on the season, while the Broncos improve to 21-11.
Both teams struggled offensively in the games opening period, as each team mustered a single goal. Pacific's first tally came from junior Kellie Fletcher (Roseville, Calif.) who scored with 1:03 remaining in the period to tie the score at 1-1.
Fletcher struck again to start the second period of play, finding the back of the cage just :54 seconds in to give Pacific a 2-1 advantage. Santa Clara answered right back, converting on a 6-on-5 opportunity as Emily Bonk scored to tie the score at 2-2. Pacific answered right back as freshman Alex Kutac (Houston, Texas) on the ensuing possession to give the Tigers back the lead at 3-2.
The Broncos once again answered back, as Amy Lamb scored on a long attempt :19 seconds later to once again tie the score at 3-3. This time, Santa Clara was able to retake the lead, getting back-to-back goals by Claire Linney and Bonk to amass a 5-3 advantage. Pacific would then cut it to one as junior Virginia McConnell (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) found the back of the cage to make the score 5-4. Santa Clara had the answer before halftime, as Jenny Knutson scored to give the Broncos a 6-4 lead heading into intermission.
Santa Clara extended the lead to begin the third period, on goals by Linney and Bonk, to make the score 8-4 before McConnell answered with her second goal of the game for the Tigers to pull Pacific back to within three. It was as close as Pacific would get, however, as over the next 12:02 the Broncos would score three straight goals to take an 11-5 advantage. Fletcher then scored following a foul restart to close the scoring with :30 seconds remaining at 11-6, advantage the visiting team from Santa Clara.
The Tigers were led by Fletcher's three goals, while McConnell added two. Pacific junior 'keeper Jocelyn Gray (Strathmore, Alberta, Canada) added six blocks, including a five-meter penalty stop, and two steals.
For the Broncos, Bonk scored four goals to lead their charge, while Linney added three. Kristen Barnes had five stops in the cage for Santa Clara.
For the second straight game Pacific played without the nation's second leading scorer, freshman Sarah Harris (Cape Town, South Africa), who has tallied 97 goals on the season.
The Tigers open up play at the 2007 MPSF Tournament as they face No. 4 ranked Hawai'i on Thursday, April 26th in Tempe, Ariz. Opening sprint is scheduled for 10am. The last meeting between the two clubs, a 18-11 decision for the Rainbow Wahine, saw Fletcher tally a career high eight goals in defeat.
Pacific: 1-3-1-1 = 6
Santa Clara: 1-5-3-2 = 11
Goals:
Pacific: Fletcher 3 (59, 60, 61), McConnell 2 (40, 41), Kutac (18)
Santa Clara: Bonk 4, Linney 3, Radvanyi 2, Zimmerman, Lamb
Blocks: Gray (PAC) 6, Barnes (SCU) 5
Sprints: Evans (SCU) 2, Safir (PAC) 2
Attend:: 96
