SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara women's water polo team kicks off Golden Coast Conference play Friday when it travels to Southern California.
The Broncos (7-10) will face the Azusa Pacific Cougars (8-16, 0-1) at 5 p.m. Friday at Citrus College in Glendora, California, before playing at No. 18 Loyola Marymount (8-15, 1-1) at noon Saturday.
Santa Clara, which is receiving votes in the CWPA national poll, has won three of its last five games, including a 7-6 triumph over Sonoma State on Thursday, March 24.
Goalkeeper Sydni Estrella returned from injury and posted 13 saves to help the Broncos hold off the Seawolves.
The other three Santa Clara seniors have posted quite a bit of the team's offensive and defensive production.
Elle Surber, who missed the Sonoma State game, leads Santa Clara in scoring with 30 goals and is second with 29 kickouts drawn.
Elizabeth Anderson is second in scoring with 29 goals and leads the team with 37 kickouts drawn.
Erin Sheridan has a team-high 25 assists, including five vs. Sonoma State, and is third in steals (13).
Azusa Pacific, which is receiving votes in the CWPA national poll, has won two of its last three games, including a 9-8 victory vs. Brown on Wednesday.
Britt Harris leads the Cougars in both goals (43) and steals (35), while Alba Espinar is second in both those categories (39 goals and 34 steals).
The Broncos won both meetings between the schools last season, a 14-6 victory in the regular season and an 11-8 win in the GCC Championship.
Santa Clara dropped both games with LMU in 2015, falling 12-7 in the regular season and then 13-10 in the opening round of the league tournament.
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