Aggie Shootout Tournament Central
DAVIS, Calif. - Santa Clara women's water polo earned a split during the Aggie Shootout, which was held Saturday at UC Davis.
The Broncos (4-5) lost to No. 10 UC Davis, 15-6, in the morning session, but rebounded with a thrilling 7-6 victory over Fresno State in the afternoon.
Game One: No. 10 UC Davis 15, Santa Clara 6
Emily Byrne and Paige Virgil each scored three times to lead a balanced offensive attack for UC Davis, which downed the Broncos, 15-6, by building an early lead.
Annie Kutt, McKenna Hauss and Greta Kohlmoos tallied two goals apiece for the Aggies (8-5) who connected on nearly half of their shots.
Maggie Oys had one goal and two assists while Annie Eldredge and Hailey Eberle each scored once and posted one assist for Santa Clara.
The Aggies scored the initial three goals of the game and built a 5-1 lead on Kutt's first strike.
The Broncos scored two of the first three goals of the second half, including Hannah Buck's tally with 6:12 left in the third quarter, closing the gap to 8-4, but the Aggies posted the next three markers, all coming within a 3-minute span.
Lydia Dadd played the first three quarters in net for the Broncos and posted eight saves.
Santa Clara went just 3-for-10 with the man advantage and was out-shot 33 to 20.
Game Two: Santa Clara 7, Fresno State 6
The Broncos never trailed but had to endure a Fresno State rally in a 7-6 victory.
Hannah Buck scored twice and had one assist, and Gabi Sicat tallied the game-winner for Santa Clara.
The Bulldogs (2-7) erased a 4-0 Santa Clara first-half lead to tie the game at 4-all midway through the third quarter, but were never able to forge ahead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Mara Dominguez scored on the power play off a feed from Lauren Paxton to give the Broncos a 6-5 lead.
Gabi Sicat scored the go-ahead goal with 2:52 left in the game, but one minute later Fresno State pulled back within one on a strike from Maddie Loggins.
Lydia Dadd had nine saves in the game, but none bigger than two in the final minute.
Following a Fresno State timeout with 34 seconds left, Dadd turned aside an attempt from Loggins and after the ball went out of bounds, the sophomore keeper stopped another attempt from Loggins with 2 seconds to go.
"It was a good team effort," Santa Clara head coach Keith Wilbur said. "There were lots of players who did all the little things right to get the win."
Callie Woodruff had two goals for the Bulldogs who were 2-for-5 with the man advantage.
Sicat also had two assists and drew one of the team's three kickouts.
NOTES
• Lydia Dadd (goalie), Hannah Buck, Annie Eldredge, Lauren Paxton, Maggie Oys and Hailey Eberle have started all nine games this season. Mara Dominguez has started the last six contests.
NEXT UP
The Broncos plays Cal Baptist at home on Friday in the Golden Coast Conference opener and will serve as host to the Santa Clara Invitational the following two days.
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