April 4, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's water polo team opened up play at The Bronco with a solid 8-5 victory over conference rival Colorado State. In their first meeting of the season, SCU (14-13, 7-2 WWPA) posted a solid all-around performance. Sophomore driver Taylor Harkins led the Santa Clara offense with three goals and a kick out. The Newport Beach, Calif. native scored a goal in the first three quarters of play.

CSU took an immediate 2-0 lead in the first quarter, but a fighting Bronco team came back with 23 seconds left in the period to get the ball to the back of the net. Harkins blazed in SCU's first goal off a Laura Espinosa pass. After getting on the board, the Broncos went on a 4-0 run with goals from Espinosa, Harkins, Amy Lamb and Meg Zimmerman.

In the third, the Rams responded with their third goal of the game from Kallie Berry, only for senior 2-meter Claire Linney to hit SCU's sixth goal of the game off a Rochelle Stowe assist. Four minutes later Colorado State got on the board to bring the game within two. Fourty-five seconds later, Harkins scored her third goal of the game to give SCU a 7-4 advantage.

After giving up a two-goal lead in the first quarter, the Bronco defense kept CSU's offense at bay. SCU took 3-2 lead in the second period and never relinquished it to a battling Ram's team. In the fourth, Santa Clara solidified their third straight win with a goal from Stowe and Colorado State scored a fifth goal as the regulation clock wound down to zero to conclude the game.

"It was a solid game for us versus a very good Colorado State team," said head coach Keith Wilbur. "After they scored a couple goals on us, we came back more patient on the offensive side and were able get the point advantage. We also opened up at 2-meter, were able to draw kick outs and play strong defense."

The Bronco defense was led by Stowe, who played the majority of the game at 2-meter defender. She tallied two steals and a kick out, along with her goal and assist. Goalie Wren White made several spectacular saves in the game and directed the SCU defense with four blocks.

Santa Clara dives back into action for their second game of the day versus No. 10 Loyola Marymount. LMU defeated No. 16 CS Bakersfield in their early game 14-11. This will be the first time the Broncos will face the Lions this season.

Santa Clara 8, Colorado State 5

Goals: Stowe - 1, Am. Lamb - 1, Zimmerman - 1, Espinosa - 1, Linney - 1, Harkins - 3

Assists: Stowe - 1, Allen - 1, Am. Lamb - 2, Zimmerman - 1, Espinosa - 1, Hildebrand - 1, Linney - 1

Steals: Al. Lamb - 1, Allen - 1, Am. Lamb - 2, Knutson - 2, Zimmerman - 1, Harkins - 1

Kick Outs Drawn: Stowe - 1, Knutson - 1, Zimmerman - 1, Harkins - 1

Blocks: White - 4