HAYWARD, Calif. – Santa Clara women's water polo turned to its top offensive threats to get back on the wining track.
Leading scorer Hannah Buck tallied a game-high three goals to lead a balanced attack for the Broncos who built an early lead and cruised to an 11-7 road victory over streaking Cal State East Bay on Saturday.
Cathy Cantoni, Annie Eldredge and Lauren Paxton each scored twice for Santa Clara (5-13), which went 3-for-9 with the man advantage.
Brandi Carroll posted a team-high two goals, but leading scorer Auriel Bill was held to only one for the Pioneers (9-6), who had their six-game winning streak snapped.
After trailing early, the Broncos went on a game-changing run spanning two quarters.
Santa Clara's Kathryn Burke tied the game at 3-all with a late first-period goal, Cantoni, Burke and Paxton added second period scores, and the Broncos put the game away in the third quarter.
Cantoni's goal with 7:03 left in the third increased the lead to 7-3 and Susan Providenza and Eldredge scored later in the period.
Katelyn Clark broke a 16:22 scoring drought for Cal State East Bay with 33 seconds left in the third quarter, but by that time the Broncos had built a 9-4 lead after scoring seven in a row.
Francesca Puccinelli, who has started all 18 games, posted 11 blocks and the Pioneers were held to only 1 of 12 with the man advantage.
Cantoni also had two assists to continue to lead the Broncos in that category. Buck drew a team-best four kickouts.
Freshmen Maggie Oys (three) and Hailey Eberle (two) combined for five assists for Santa Clara.
The Broncos, who dropped all four games at last weekend's Wolverine Invitational, play their next four at home, starting Saturday when Harvard visits Sullivan Aquatic Center.
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