Women’s Water Polo Drops a Pair of Heartbreakers at LMU

Posted: Mar 27, 2021

LOS ANGELES – Santa Clara women's water polo had a pair of tough decisions on Saturday.

The Broncos (0-6, 0-5) were outlasted by Concordia, 11-9, before being edged by the Lions, 9-8, in Golden Coast Conference action.

Concordia 11, Santa Clara 9

Janie Hobbs scored three times and Madison Ravelo had two goals and three assists to help Concordia hold off the Broncos, 11-9.

Natalie Brauser, Elle Fredrickson and Lauren Voss each scored twice for the Broncos.

After trailing by as many as three in the third period, Santa Clara pulled within one on four occasions but were never able to get the equalizer.

A goal from Mia Battilega cut the Concordia lead to 9-8 with 3:56 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Kim Reidel answered with a power play strike on the ensuing possession.

Lauren Baglietto scored for the Broncos with 1:15 remaining, but again the Eagles countered with Ravelo setting up Dailynn Santoro 14 seconds later.

Santa Clara led 2-1 early in the second quarter on a goal from Brauser, but Concordia scored five of the next six with a marker from Hobbs making it a 6-3 edge less than 1 minute into the third period.

The Eagles went 5-for-10 with the extra attacker and the Broncos were only 2 of 8.

Loyola Marymount 9, Santa Clara 8

Alena Sanchez had a game-high four goals, including three on 5-meter penalties, and Melyssa Moore added a pair for Loyola Marymount which was able squeak out a 9-8 victory over the Broncos.

Mia Battilega and Malene Nguyen each scored twice for Santa Clara in a game tied three times.

Nguyen's exclusion goal less than 2 minutes into the third quarter gave the Broncos a 5-3 lead, but Moore scored two times around a strike from Sanchez, all on 5-meter penalties, to erase the advantage.

Gabi Sicat scored the equalizer as the quarter ended. However, goals 30 seconds apart early in the fourth by Taylor Enright and Sanchez put the Lions back in control.

Nguyen cut the deficit to 9-8 with a goal with 1:27 left on the clock and the Broncos had possession with 18 seconds left, but were unable to get off a shot for a potential tying goal.

LMU was held to just two goals on seven attempts with the man advantage, but the Lions were 5 of 6 on 5-meter penalty shots.

Santa Clara had just four power plays but did connect for goals on two of them.

NEXT UP
The Broncos will play an exhibition game at West Valley College on Friday before facing Cuesta College the following day at home in another exhibition contest.

NOTES
• Lauren Baglietto. Mia Battilega, Malena Nguyen, Elle Fredrickson, Lauren Voss and Gabi Sicat started both games.
• Alexa Grau went the distance in next against Concordia and was credit with four saves. Liyara Senadheera played all 32 minutes in goal vs. LMU and had five blocks.