Feb. 17, 2008
Stockton, Calif. - Behind a six goal effort from senior Kellie Fletcher (Roseville, Calif.) and an outstanding performance by the Pacific defense, the Pacific women's water polo team defeated Fresno Pacific by a score of 19-2 on Feb. 17 in Stockton, Calif. With the win, the Tigers improved their overall record to 2-5 on the season, while the Sunbirds fell to 0-7 on the year with the loss.
The Tigers jumped out early in the contest pouncing on the Sunbirds and scoring the first seven goals of the game in the win. From there, they would never look back. Although Fresno Pacific's Borbala Toth scored for the Sunbirds with 39 seconds left in the first period, the Tigers lead was never in jeopardy as Fletcher scored her third goal of the first quarter alone less than 20 seconds later.
Fletcher finished the game with a team-high six goals on the afternoon, while Jessica Safir (Los Gatos, Calif.) was the second highest scorer for Pacific with three goals of her own in the Tiger victory.
Other scorers for the Tigers included Dara Tawarahara (Honolulu, Hawai'i) and Bridget Geck (Huntington Beach, Calif.) who each scored two goals in the contest and Alex Kutac (Houston, Texas) and Courtney Boettger (Stockton, Calif.) who each scored once.
The Tigers' last four goals of the game were all scored by players netting their first goals of the season. Included in that group was junior Meghan Connor (Hinsdale, Ill.) and freshmen Catherine Collett (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), Siobhan Larsen (Mundelein, Ill.), and Kailee Bucknum (Mission Viejo, Calif.).
Pacific's defense also played well in the win, holding the Sunbirds to two goals in the contest. Jocelyn Gray manned goal for the Tigers in the first half recording two saves, while Kate Casey (Lodi, Calif.) recorded six more saves in the second half.
The Tigers will return to Chris Kjeldsen pool this afternoon to take on UC Davis at 5:00 p.m.
Pacific: 8 - 5 - 3 - 3 = 19
Fresno Pacific: 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 = 2
Pacific Goals: Kellie Fletcher - 6, Jessica Safir - 3, Dara Tawarahara - 2, Bridget Geck - 1, Alex Kutac - 1, Courtney Boettger - 1, Kailee Bucknum - 1, Siobhan Larsen - 1, Catherine Collett - 1, Meghan Connor - 1
Fresno Pacific Goals: Deborah Wall - 1, Borbala Toth - 1
Pacific Saves: Jocelyn Gray - 2, Kate Casey - 6
Fresno Pacific Saves: Brittni Chism - 5
