April 16, 2010

Game Scoresheet in PDF Format

DAVIS, Calif. - Senior utility Kristin McLaughlin converted a five-meter penalty shot 96 seconds into the first sudden-victory period to lift 10th-ranked Cal State Northridge to an 8-7 win over 17th-ranked UC Davis in Big West Conference women's water polo action at Schaal Aquatics Center Friday evening.

The Aggies even their overall record to 15-15 and slip to 1-3 in conference play. The Matadors improve to 26-6 and remain unbeaten in Big West contests at 4-0.

Friday's contest was largely defined by a battle of two of the conference's top goalkeepers. UC Davis senior Casey Hines tallied 18 saves, including three on penalty shots and two more on exclusions. CSUN senior Jillian Stapf posted 15 blocks, four in the overtime frames.

Matador sophomore Whitney Delgado led all players with three goals, although she fell victim to two of Hines' saves on five-meter attempts. For the Aggies, freshman Jessica Dunn scored a pair of player-up goals while sophomore Ariel Feeney matched that total with natural goals in each of the first two periods.

UC Davis never trailed in the regulation, battling to a 4-4 tie at the halftime break then taking a 6-5 lead through three quarters. Dunn converted a 6-on-5 opportunity with her cross-cage shot early in the third period. She helped protect the lead with a field block and steal two minutes later. Then with 3:22 left that period, Feeney delivered an entry pass to senior Dana Nelsen, who netted a goal from two meters to push the Aggies to a 6-4 lead. But Matador senior Kirra Kylander assisted Delgado on a power play to cut the lead back to one with 1:03 left in the period.

Sophomore Christina Miyabe restored the UC Davis lead to two when she eluded a defender down low en route to a goal at the 7:17 mark in the fourth. But that proved to be the last of her team's goals, as the Aggies missed on their next six shots for the remainder of the period. Meanwhile, CSUN halved the UC Davis lead when Sydney Sonoda drew an exclusion and immediately converted the 6-on-5 with 4:44 to go in the fourth. Then senior Renee Gargiulo hit the equalizer, collecting a pass from Alison Pierce near the right post of the cage.

UC Davis had opportunities to end the game in regulation, firing off a pair of shots after sophomore Carey Faber drew a kickout with a minute remaining. The Aggies also unloaded shots in the final seconds, but Stapf stopped both.

Stapf posted three saves for CSUN while Dunn's steal on a Matador counterattack prevented any scoring in the first overtime. UC Davis earned a final possession late in the second overtime when Miyabe and Kaylee Miller crashed on McLaughlin down low, forcing a turnover. But Northridge freshman Danielle Berman nabbed a key steal at two meters to force the sudden-victory period.

Both Hines and Stapf tallied saves in the seventh frame to continue holding the score at 7-7. After a UC Davis lob missed high and wide on the Matador cage, CSUN took control with 1:30 on the clock. McLaughlin earned the five-meter penalty shot on that possession. Her shot rocketed toward the lower left corner, and although Hines caught a piece of it, the ball managed enough momentum to scoot into the cage for the game-winner.

Hines' saves total is her highest since tallying a school-record 20 against Maryland at the Triton Invitational in February.

UC Davis returns to action for its home finale against UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, part of the university's 96th-annual Picnic Day festivities.

GOALS - CSUN: Whitney Delgado 3, Sydney Sonoda 2, Heidi Pettinger 1, Renne Gargiulo 1, Kristin McLaughlin 1. UC Davis: Ariel Feeney 2, Jessica Dunn 2, Carmen Eggert 1, Dana Nelsen 1, Christina Miyabe 1.

GOALIES - CSUN: Jillian Stapf 15 saves, 7 goals against (39:36). UC Davis: Casey Hines 18 saves, 8 goals against (39:36).