Jan. 30, 2010
BERKELEY, Calif. - The No. 19 Santa Clara women's water polo team dropped its first two matches of the Nor-Cal Cup today in Berkeley, falling to local rival No. 4 San Jose State, 12-6, and fourth-ranked host California , 16-2. Senior driver Jenny Knutson was the Broncos top scorer on the day, netting three total goals, including two against the Spartans.
Santa Clara hung with the nation's eighth-best team through the first half, only finding itself with a three-goal deficit midway through the game. The Broncos started slow, giving up three while only scoring one in the first quarter, but scored three times in the second period. After the half, Santa Clara was goal-for-goal with the Spartans, but couldn't find the steam it needed in the final quarter, conceding three goals and going on to a 12-6 loss.
Knutson, along with scoring twice in the match, dreww three exclusions, had two steals, and an assist. Senior Meg Zimmerman also scored twice and added two kick-outs drawn and an assist. Fellow senior Rochelle Stowe and freshman Alison Norris each found the back of the cage once. Junior Taylor Harkins had two assists and junior goalie Wren White had five blocks.
"Our offense was better in the San Jose State game as compared to Thursday's game," said head coach Keith Wilbur. "But our defense was lacking."
In the evening match against fourth-ranked California, the Golden Bears jumped out to a 7-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Broncos hit net just twice in the first half, and that was all the offense they would have. Cal went on to a 9-2 lead by half and added seven unanswered goals in the second half.
Harkins and Knutson each scored, while Zimmerman drew 3 kick-outs, bringing her total for the day to five. In the cage, White played the first half and freshman Stephanie Clements had her collegiate debut in the second half as the two combined to make seven saves.
"Cal is very good, but we can play better," said Wilbur. "We need to be able to get more out of that game and need to have a stronger start. It's early in the season though and hopefully it's a lesson learned."
Santa Clara continues play in the Nor-Cal Cup tomorrow, playing Sonoma State at 9:15 a.m. and Cal State East Bay
at 3:30 p.m.
|
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
|
No. 19 Santa Clara |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
No. 8 San Jose State |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
Santa Clara Goal Scorers: Jenny Knutson 2, Meg Zimmerman 2, Rochelle Stowe, Alison Norris.
San Jose State Goal Scorers: Kelly Stewart 3; Bridget McKee 2, Kathryn Hannum 2, Katie Buzzetta, Adriana Vogt, Anna Natalizio, Kimber Methvin, Janessa Schmidbauer.
Santa Clara Saves: Wren White 5.
San Jose State: Meagan Minson 5.
|
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
|
No. 19 Santa Clara |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
No. 4 California |
7 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
16 |
Santa Clara Goal Scorers: Jenny Knutson, Taylor Harkins.
California Goal Scorers: Meghan Corso 3, Camille Hewko 3, Emily Csikos 2, Breda Vosters 2, Remy Champion, Elizabeth McLaren, Stephanie Schnugg, Dana Ochsner, Jessica Robinson, Jennifer Docto.
Santa Clara Saves: Wren White 2, Stephanie Clements 3.
California Saves: Stephanie Peckham 6, Elizabeth Layton 4.
