HAYWARD, Calif. – No. 21 Pacific women's water polo swept the three-game series against Cal State East Bay with an 18-9 win on Thursday at Pioneer Pool.
It also marked the final non conference game of the season for the Tigers.
Sophomore
Dora Alaksza, who was named to the Cutino Award Watch List hours before, led with a career-high 10 points on a career-high seven goals and three assists along with a game-high four steals. Junior
Hila Futorian added four goals while sophomore
Noemi Alaksza and junior
Natasha Dykman had three apiece.
Senior goalkeeper
Megan Acosta grabbed a season-high nine saves in net.
"I'm very proud of how our team played today," head coach
Candice Vorbeck said. "They came together during unexpected circumstances and had a great team win. They adapted constantly and fought hard for four quarters to come out on top on the road."
Pacific (11-8, 0-2 GCC) was down 4-2 against Cal State East Bay (8-10, 0-0 WWPA) at the end of the first period.
The Tigers responded with a 7-4 scoring advantage in the second.
Noemi Alaksza tied the game at four-all with back to back goals with under seven minutes left. Both teams then traded goals before Futorian fired the ball into the net in the final seven seconds to give Pacific a 9-8 lead at halftime.
The Tigers dominated the second half tallying nine goals while holding the Pioneers to just one.
Pacific outshot Cal State East Bay 38-28.
"Even though we had a slow start to the game, we stuck together and stayed focused," Acosta said. "Once we locked down our defense, we freed ourselves up for more creative and effective offensive possessions."
Up next, the Tigers will look for their first Golden Coast Conference win of the season as they host Santa Clara at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
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@pacificwaterpolo) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (
Pacific Women's Water Polo).
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