SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The host and No. 3 seeded Santa Clara Broncos overcame deficits of three goals twice Saturday afternoon to upset the No. 15 ranked CSUB water polo team at the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Tournament, 10-9. The 'Runners are now 21–14 on the season and are 11–4 in conference play.
CSUB jumped out to an early three-goal advantage as Becky Seelos, Kaitlin Torres and Amanda Ortiz each tallied scores before Santa Clara got on the board with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter. But the Roadrunners would draw a Bronco ejection 18 seconds later and Ortiz capitalized with a goal as the clock showed just eight seconds remaining in the first. However, the two strikes by Ortiz in the opening eight minutes would be her only two of the afternoon as Santa Clara swarmed the senior every time she touched the ball thereafter.
The teams traded goals in the second quarter with Santa Clara striking first. Katherine Gillett responded for the 'Runners with a goal to make the halftime score, 5-2, in favor of the 'Runners.
The Broncos came out in the second half and ran up three-unanswered goals to tied the game at 5-5 just past midway of the third quarter. Alyson Moss and C.J. Longeuay would answer back, scoring the next two. Another Santa Clara goal at the 1:27 mark narrowed the margin to one but Seelos scored just 18 seconds after the Santa Clara strike to give CSUB a two-goal advantage heading into the final eight minutes of play.
Another early push by Santa Clara tied the game at 9-9 with 6:44 remaining. Moss would score her second of the game 21 seconds later but that would be it for the Roadrunner offense as the Broncos scored the remaining two goals of the contest to pull off the upset victory.
Ortiz, Seelos and Moss each tallied two strikes for the 'Runners and Veronica Campbell had six blocks in goal.
The 'Runners will conclude the WWPA Tournament tomorrow as they play No. 5 seed Sonoma State in the consolation final at 12:30 p.m. CSUB has never finished higher than fourth place in its history at the WWPA Tournament.
Courtesy: CSU Bakersfield Sports Information
