PALO ALTO, Calif. – On a rainy, windy day in the Bay Area, sophomore Dora Alaksza put together one of her best performances as the #16 Pacific women's water polo team battled to a split on the final day of the Stanford Invitational at the Avery Aquatic Center.
 
The Tigers (2-2) poured on the offense in a 14-7 victory over #23 Biola (3-3) before falling in the afternoon finale against host #6 Stanford (6-2) by a final score of 14-3.
 
"Outside of the rain and wind, we did a great job of staying focused," Pacific head coach Candice Vorbeck said on her team's effort. "We had some really great passes and vision. It's great to see us playing together."
 
Game 1: No. 16 Pacific 14, No. 23 Biola 7
 
Alaksza carried the torch offensively for the Tigers right from the onset, tying a career-high six goals on a team-best eight shot attempts. Alaksza previously scored six goals against Wagner last season. 

Junior Hila Futorian also tied a career-high in points (7), notching her second hat trick of the season with four goals and three assists.

Freshman goalkeeper Maja Lizy Dulic drew the starting assignment in goal, making eight saves in the effort defensively.

The Tigers jumped out in front, holding a 3-1 lead after the first eight minutes of play. Futorian secured two of her four goals in the opening frame.
 
The Tigers and Eagles traded two goals apiece in the second quarter, presenting a 5-3 lead for Pacific at the midway point of the contest.
 
Out of halftime, the Tigers erupted offensively with a five-goal third period, which featured three goals by Alaszka.
 
Pacific iced the game away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Biola 4-2 in the final frame to ultimately give the Tigers their first win against a ranked opponent this season.
 
Game 2: No. 6 Stanford 14, No. 16 Pacific 3
 
The Tigers could not carry the momentum from the morning match into the rainy afternoon bout with the Cardinal.
 
Dulic turned in one of her best defensive efforts of the early campaign, making a season-high 13 saves.
 
Stanford scored the first nine goals of the game before Alaksza found the back of the net to close out the first half.

Alaksza scored a 6-on-5 goal to kickstart the Pacific offense to begin the third quarter, but Stanford's balanced effort proved too strong, outscoring the Tigers 3-1 in the frame.
 
With another pair of goals in the fourth quarter, the Cardinal eventually secured the win by a final score of 14-3.

The Tigers return to action next week at the Aggie Invite, facing Cal State East Bay at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10 at Schaal Aquatics Center.
 
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