SEASIDE, Calif. – Hannah Buck scored a game-high five goals to help Santa Clara women's water polo build a commanding lead and the Broncos were able to hold off a late rally from Cal State Monterey to claim an 11-9 victory in Saturday's season opener on the road.
Hailey Eberle scored three goals and Francesca Puccinelli registered 14 saves to pick up the win for the Broncos, who scored on 5 of 10 chances with the man advantage.
Marisa Lovos had three goals and Adrianna Craft scored twice and added three assists for Cal State Monterey (0-2), which also went 5-for-10 on the power play.
Buck's final goal, which set a new career high, increased the lead to 10-4 with 1:42 left in the third quarter, but the Otters came storming back, scoring five straight, including three within less than two minutes spanning the end of the third and into the fourth period.
Morgan Tucker and Kylie Wheelock scored in the final 36 seconds of the third period and Lovos struck on the power play at the 49-second mark of the fourth to cut the deficit to 10-7. Lovos added another man advantage goal two minutes later and Lucy Gates drew the Otters to within 10-9 on a marker with 1:56 remaining off a Wheelock feed.
But Blair Akerland came through on the ensuing possession for the Broncos, scoring her second goal of the game and some breathing room.
"That was a big insurance goal by Blair down the stretch," Santa Clara head coach Keith Wilbur said.
Puccinelli turned aside two shots in the final 1:30 and Santa Clara was able to overcome a late exclusion on Cathy Cantoni, who had one goal, two assists and two steals.
"Fran was very strong in the cage for us today with 14 saves," Wilbur said.
Buck, who also drew four exclusions, gave the Broncos a 6-4 lead at the half by scoring on the power play with less than two minutes left in the second period. The sophomore then added two goals in a one-minute span early in the third to push the lead to 8-4.
"Hannah and Hailey helped carry us offensively today, especially with the man advantage where they had all of our goals," Wilbur said.
The Broncos will now play their next three games at home, beginning Thursday when eighth-ranked Hawaii visits Sullivan Aquatic Center.
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