Feb. 9, 2008

Stockton, Calif. - Despite a four goal effort from freshman Dara Tawarahara (Honolulu, Hawai'i) and a two goal lead at halftime, the Pacific women's water polo team fell to CSU Monterey Bay on Feb. 9 by a score of 12-9. With the loss, the Tigers fell to 0-4 on the season and 0-3 in MPSF play, while CSU Monterey Bay advanced to 3-1 on the year with the win.

Tawarahara got the Tigers off to a fast start in the contest by scoring the first goal of the game just 1:36 into the first period and adding a second goal less than a minute later. The Tigers then added two more goals from Bridget Geck (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and held the Otters to one goal in the period to advance to the second quarter with a four goal advantage.

In addition to two individual goals scored by seniors Kellie Fletcher (Roseville, Calif.) and Virginia McConnell (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), Tawarahara added two more goals for the Tigers in the second period.

Although the Tigers were up 8-6 at the half, the momentum in the game quickly shifted as the Otters netted five goals in the third period while holding the Tigers to just one goal scored by sophomore Jessica Safir (Los Gatos, Calif.).

After the Otters jumped out to a two goal lead heading into the final period, the Tigers were never able to get back into the game as CSU Monterey Bay's Chelsea Laning scored the only goal of the fourth period. Laning scored six times in the contest to lead the Otters to a 12-9 victory.

Pacific: 4 - 4 - 1 - 0 = 9
CSU Monterey Bay: 1 - 5 - 5 - 1 = 12

Pacific Goals: Dara Tawarahara - 4, Bridget Geck - 2, Kellie Fletcher - 1, Jessica Safir - 1, Virginia McConnell - 1

CSU Monterey Bay Goals: Chelsea Laning - 6, Stephanie Salvi - 3, Nikki Smart - 2, Christy Thompson - 1

Pacific Saves: Jocelyn Gray - 5

CSU Monterey Bay Saves: Jenna Beer - 13