STOCKTON, Calif. – Senior Day wouldn't have been complete without a final win at home as No. 20 Pacific women's water polo came back from a slow start to defeat California Baptist 14-11 on Saturday at Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
Before to the contest, the Tigers honored seniors
Megan Acosta,
June Akpata,
Mia Garcia,
Isabelle Knittle,
Annikah Lillie and graduate student
Hailey Williams.
Playing in her final home game of her career, Williams led Pacific (14-8, 3-2 GCC) with a career-high seven points on a career-high six goals and one assist. Sophomore
Dora Alaksza also had seven points as she registered four goals while matching her career-high three assists. Junior
Addison McGowan had four points on one goal and three assists. Teammate
Hila Futorian notched three points on one goal and two assists.
Acosta, who started as goalkeeper in her final home game, finished with eight saves and two steals.
"We were trying not to get caught up in everything that was going on today," Williams said. "With senior day and the last home game, we wanted to get the job done and secure that win. That way we can go into the GCC tournament with confidence."
California Baptist (10-15, 2-2 GCC) jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first period. With 1:24 left, Alaksza tallied back to back goals to bring the Tigers within one. The Lancers later scored again to take a 5-3 advantage at the end of the first.
Pacific tallied three goals in the second period while holding California Baptist to just one. The game was tied at six going into halftime.
The Tigers outscored the Lancers 5-2 in the third that put them in the lead, 11-8. Williams tallied four of those goals.
Both teams registered three goals in the fourth period, but it was the defensive effort by Acosta who registered five stops that helped Pacific pull out the victory.
Both teams took 32 shots apiece. The Tigers registered a .438 shooting percentage while the Lancers had .344.
"We had to overcome some adversity today," head coach
Candice Vorbeck said. "Our ability to play better defense and not allow shots that we would normally allow was really important. We had to adapt after the first quarter, we had to play much more disciplined defense. We really set ourselves up for success."
Up next, Pacific has a week off before traveling to No. 8 Fresno State at 1 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 19.
Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific women's water polo, be sure to follow the team on X (
@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (
@pacificwaterpolo) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (
Pacific Women's Water Polo).
#PacificProud
