SANTA CLARA, Calif.- After taking a week off for winter quarter finals, the No. 17 Broncos faced Redland and Cal State Monterey Bay at the Sullivan Aquatic Center on Sunday. The Broncos picked up two wins and are now 9-9 on the season.
Despite the early morning start, the Broncos came out ready to play against Redlands. Erin Sheridan got the Broncos going with a goal to start the game. With goals by Kaitlin Murphy, another from Sheridan and Elle Surber the Broncos finished off the first quarter with a 4-0 lead.
Elizabeth Anderson continued the Broncos run, throwing in two more goals, 6-0. After earning an ejection, Surber converted the man-up opportunity for her second goal of the game. Laura Burtness put in one final goal, before the Bulldogs put in their first goal of the game off a penalty shot. The Broncos had a 8-1 advantage at halftime.
E. Anderson started off the third quarter with a goal. The Broncos went on a four-goal run with goals from Claire Eadington, Jenny Anderson and Blair Akerland, 12-1. The Bulldogs put in two goals to end the third period 12-3, Broncos holding on to the lead.
Murphy took the momentum back for the Broncos, scoring her second goal of the game. Ashleigh Bandimere scored her first goal of the game with a lob shot, 14-3 Broncos. The Bulldogs were able to slip one by the Broncos defense, but Keri Clifford threw in a back-hand goal to make the game 15-4. The Bulldogs scored one final goal, but the game ended 15-5 Broncos with the win.
In their second game, the Broncos faced old conference rival Cal State Monterey Bay. J. Anderson started off the game with a goal. Kathryn Burke followed suit, giving the Broncos a two-goal advantage. The Otters score their first goal, but Murphy answered right back, 3-1 Broncos advantage. Surber and Burtness added two more goals and the first period ended 5-2, Broncos with the lead.
The Broncos and the Otters battled and put up tough defense in the second. Surber and Bandimere were able to find the back of the net, making it 7-2 Bronco advantage going into half.
The Anderson sisters came out firing to start the third, each scoring a goal, and Sheridan put in her second of the game, 10-2. The Otters put in two quick goals, but Sheridan and Lauren Radich added two more for the Broncos making the game 12-4 going into the final quarter.
Michaella Parelius started the fourth quarter with a Bronco goal. The Otters went on a four-goal run, but it was not enough. The Broncos left the pool with the 13-8 win over Monterey Bay.
The Broncos will now head down to Southern California on Mar. 28 and play their first conference games of the season against Azusa Pacific and Loyola Marymount.