Women's Water Polo

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Water Polo Picks up Big WWPA Win; Readies itself for Two Games Sunday

Posted: Mar 13, 2013

Santa Clara, Calif.- Playing in their final designated WWPA conference game of the year, the Santa Clara University Women's water polo team picked up a huge 9-8 decision over Sonoma St. last Saturday. The win gives the Broncos a conference mark of 5-2 in the WWPA and likely locks up a three seed for the Western Water Polo Championships to be held at the Sullivan Aquatic Center from Friday, April 26 to Sunday April 28.

The Broncos, who play their final 13 of 14 games at home in 2013, will welcome Occidental and Harvard to the Sullivan Aquatic Center this weekend. Santa Clara (10-10; 5-2 WWPA) will take on Harvard (10-4 overall; 2-0 CWPA) at 9:30 a.m. before playing host to Occidental (4-10; 0-0 SCIAC) at 2:30 p.m. Harvard and Occidental will play at 12:00 noon.

With the win over Sonoma St. the Broncos finished WWPA play with only two losses against the likely two top seeds in the conference, Loyola Marymount and UC San Diego. On Saturday, the Broncos got off to a slow start trailing after the first and second quarters by one goal. However, the third quarter proved big for SCU, as they shut the SeaWolves out while piling up three goals of their own to take an 8-6 lead into the 4^th quarter. SCU held on in the 4^th, thanks in part to a double-digit save performance in the cage from Stephanie Clements (San Carlos, Calif,/ Sacred Heart Prep).

Building off impressive play from the weekend prior, senior Alison Norris (Saratoga, Calif./ Saratoga HS) had an all-around impressive game with three goals, one steal, two kick outs draw while assisting on two kick out drawn. Freshman Elle Surber (Pleasanton, Calif./ Amador Valley HS) tallied a hat-trick for SCU while Kaitlin Murphy (Carlsbard, Calif./ Carlsbad HS) gave the Broncos plenty of chances on the man-advantage drawing a game-high six earned ejections. Jenny Anderson (Palo Alto, Calif./ Gunn HS) set up four goals for the Broncos and Coach Wilbur was quick to point out the outstanding play at two-meters defense by junior Laura Burtness (Portland, Ore/ Sunset HS).

Santa Clara has seen outstanding play from their freshman all season long. Surber and Elizabeth Anderson (Palo Alto, Calif./ Gunn HS) have scored 20 and 19 goals respectively. Julia Peters (San Jose, Calif./ Presentation HS) continues to lead the Broncos in scoring with 31 goals on the year. Claire Eadington (Corona Del Mar, Calif,/ Corona Del Mar) leads the Broncos with 25 assists while Stephanie Clements has now wracked up 113 saves during her senior season.

For the very latest on Santa Clara water polo follow the Broncos on Twitter (@SCUPolo).