TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Santa Clara, Calif- The Santa Clara University women's water polo team added two huge conference wins to kick off the 2012 Bronco Invitational on Saturday, beating Cal St. San Bernardino 18-3 in its morning game and Colorado St. 12-8 in the afternoon. With the wins, the Broncos improve their conference record to 7-7 on the year.
Santa Clara got first half goals from five different players in the opener, including Marina Allen and Claire Eadington each tallying two goals apiece. Stephanie Clements played the first half and added three goals while only allowing one goal. The Broncos distanced themselves in the second half, pushing their lead to nine at the end of three periods. Ashleigh Bandimere led the Broncos with three goals as 11 Broncos found the back of the net.
The afternoon game was a big one for the Broncos and Rams as the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) rivals battled for the first time this season. Both teams, knowing the importance of the game for seedings in the upcoming WWPA Conference tournament at the end of the month, came out physical as the teams played evenly to a score of 5-5 at halftime.
The Broncos struck first in the third quarter, as Sarah Safir and Allen burried shots for a 7-5 lead. The Rams answered as Schaeffer scored on the counter attack, but Laura Burtness's one-on-goalie skip shot put the Broncos lead back at two. After two huge point-blank blocks by Clements, Jamie Swartz scored from four-meters out pushing the Broncos lead to three.
Colorado St. countered to start the fourth, as Young's shot from the six spot on the man-advantage cut the Santa Clara lead to one. Bandimere, Santa Clara's top freshman scorer, came up clutch for the Broncos, scoring with an off balance shot. Norris added an insurance goal with four minutes remaining on the counter attack and Preston put the dagger in the Rams with a goal out of two meters with 1:45 left to give the Broncos an insurmountable four-goal lead.
Santa Clara 18, Cal St. San Bernardino 3
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |||||||||||
| CSUSB | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||
| SCU | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
CSUSB Goals: Armedariz, Vu, Duran
SCU Goals: Bandimere (3), Eadington (2), Allen (2), Radich (2), Kassel (2), Balch (2) Murphy, Espinosa, Norris, Letrich, Fornesi
Saves: Bertram (CSUSB) 6 ; Clements (SCU) 3, Ashfar (SCU) 4
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Santa Clara 12, Colorado St. 8
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |||||||||||
| CSU | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||||
| SCU | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
CSU Goals: Young (3), Schaeffer (2), Berry, Barrot, Weed
SCU Goals: Allen (2), Safir (2), Murphy, Bandimere, Burtness Swartz, Norris, Eadington, Preston, Espinosa
Saves: Slagle (CSU) 3; Clements (SCU) 5
