Updated: April 30 | 1:30 PM PDT
SAN DIEGO – The Santa Clara women's water polo team once again played a solid defensive game, but was unable to generate enough offense in a 7-5 loss to Loyola Marymount in the opening round of the three-day Golden Coast Conference Championship, which is being held at San Diego State.
Seniors Elle Surber and Elizabeth Anderson each scored two goals, and Cathy Cantoni added another along with two assists for the fifth-seeded Broncos (10-15) who were held to one marker in the second half of a game tied four times.
Hana Vilanova posted a game-high three goals and Bridgette Alvarez tallied two more for fourth-seeded and 22nd-ranked LMU (12-19), which advances to face No. 1 seed and host San Diego State in Saturday's semifinal round. The Broncos play sixth-seeded Azusa Pacific at 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the fifth-place game.
Surber's second goal tied the game at 5-all with 1:49 left in the third quarter, but less than one minute later Alvarez scored the eventual game-winner.
The Broncos had opportunities in the final quarter as the Lions were whistled for four exclusions, but Santa Clara was unable to convert and LMU"s Ivana Castro added and insurance goal with 2:31 left in the game.
"I thought we had some good looks," head coach Keith Wilbur. "Their goalie made some blocks and we hit some bars."
Francesca Puccinelli got the start in net for Santa Clara in place of an injured Sydni Estrella and posted nine saves.
"We played good defense," Wilbur said. "We were always in it. A couple some missed opportunities on offense. I thought we played very well. We played them a lot better than we did earlier in the year, but it's a hard loss to take."
In addition to Estrella's absence due to a concussion suffered earlier this week in practice, the Broncos were without another senior for the final three quarters of the game.
Erin Sheridan was ejected with less than 10 seconds left in the opening quarter. She is the team leader in assists and ranks second in steals.
Santa Clara got off to a fast start in the game.
The Broncos led 2-all with just more than one minute gone before Vilanova scored three straight goals. Her exclusion tally at the 24-second mark of the second quarter gave the Lions a 3-2 lead.
But even-strength goals from Surber and Cantoni moved the Broncos into a 4-3 lead before LMU tied it up just before halftime on a goal by Ashtynn Nelson.
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