SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Sami Strutner scored the go-ahead goal with just more than one minute left in the second overtime to lift Harvard to a 9-8 victory over Santa Clara women's water polo on Saturday afternoon.
Sofia Carrera-Justiz and Kristen Hong each scored twice for the 20th-ranked Crimson (8-9) who scored four times in the fourth quarter to help send the game to the extra session.
Annie Eldredge and Cathy Cantoni tallied two goals apiece for the Broncos (5-14) who were opening a four-game homestand.
Cantoni's final goal tied the game at 8-all with 50 seconds left in the fourth. Each team had one possession to score the go-ahead goal in regulation, but Harvard's Mathilde Ribordy hit the post and Santa Clara turned the ball over.
The Broncos were unable to take advantage of two overtime exclusions and Strutner made them pay when she took a feed from Carrera-Justiz and put the game-winner past goalie Francesca Puccinelli with 1:10 left in the second extra session.
Santa Clara had two possessions in the final minute, but was unable to get a shot off.
"That was a good game against a solid opponent," Santa Clara head coach Keith Wilbur said. "They just made a couple extra plays."
Puccinelli went the distance in net, registering 15 saves, one off her career high set earlier this season against Sonoma State.
Hannah Buck, Santa Clara's leading scorer, had a goal and an assist, and drew four of Harvard's eight kickouts. Maggie Oys drew three kickouts and scored a goal.
The Broncos went 2-for-8 with the man advantage and the Crimson was 2 of 5 with 40 shot attempts on Puccinelli.
Santa Clara continues its four-game homestand Sunday at 1 p.m. when Fresno Pacific visits for a Golden Coast Conference matchup.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION |
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| Video | Santa Clara-Fresno Pacific |
| Live Stats | Santa Clara-Fresno Pacific |
Tickets: Single-game tickets are available for $5. Click here to purchase online or contact the ticket office weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (408) 554-4660 or BroncoTickets@scu.edu. Sullivan Aquatic Center, as well as its ticket office, is open one hour prior to the start of the game. Only cash is accepted at Sullivan Aquatic Center.
Parking: For weekday games, the Leavey Center lot, located on Accolti Way off El Camino Real, is free beginning one hour prior to the start of the game. Any other parking facility on campus will be subject to normal daily rates or restrictions, including the main structure, located on Palm Drive. During the weekend, campus parking facilities are free (except for permit required locations). Please note there will be a number of events on campus on Saturday and Sunday. Overflow parking should be available in the main structure. Click here for a campus map and parking restrictions.
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