April 5, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's water polo team closed out The Bronco with a perfect 2-0 record on the day. After defeating CS San Bernardino 13-8 in the morning, SCU concluded the weekend with a 10-7 routing of No. 18 UC San Diego. The Broncos improve to 16-14, 8-3 WWPA on the season and close out the weekend with a 3-1 record.

The very aggressive conference contest was plagued with kick outs and players getting ejected. Santa Clara drew eight kick outs, including five from Meg Zimmerman, while the Tritons drew 12. With 20 total kick outs in the game, the game went back-and-fourth for the first three-and-a-half quarters SCU managed to hold onto the lead throughout the game; however UCSD tied it up at four different points. In the fourth period, the Broncos squared away their second straight win on the day with a 2-0 run in the fourth quarter.

This afternoon's win was a collective team effort, as contributions were made throughout the lineup. Amy Lamb tallied three goals and three assists, while her sister Allie posted three assists and drew a kick out. Claire Linney had a hat trick, and posted a kick out and SCU's lone 5-meter penalty. Also getting on the board was Taylor Harkins, Jenny Knutson, Rochelle Stowe and Zimmerman, who each had a goal apiece.

Marina Allen, Harkins, Kendal Hildebrand and Knutson each had a steal to keep San Diego from penetrating the SCU goal and keep the Bronco offensive advantage. In the cage, sophomore Wren White tallied nine blocks. The Santa Clara goalie remained composed throughout the four-period game, while the eighteenth-ranked Tritons continually fired off shots on her.

"San Diego is a good team and we traded goals with them for the first three-and-a-half quarters," said head coach Keith Wilbur. "It was great score goals, stop UCSD and hold onto our three-goal lead. I am very happy with the way we played this weekend."

SCU concludes the 2009 regular season with games at UC Davis on April 17, and a final WWPA game on April 18, versus UC Santa Cruz.

Santa Clara 10, No. 18 UC San Diego 7

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

Assists: Al. Lamb - 3, Am. Lamb - 3, Knutson - 1, Espinosa - 1, Hildebrand - 2

Steals: Allen - 1, Knutson - 1, Hildebrand - 1, Harkins - 1

Kick Outs Drawn: Al. Lamb - 1, Allen - 1, Zimmerman - 5, Linney - 1

5-Meter Penalty: Linney - 1

Blocks: White - 9