The UC San Diego Women's Water Polo team made its 2007 debut a winning one, sweeping a pair of games at Canyonview Pool Saturday.
In what was, according to Head Coach Larry Sanders, “a good first step,” the Tritons cruised past Cal State San Bernardino, 15-6, in its opener Saturday morning.
Seniors Natalie Hockett and Sarah Bajorek scored five and four goals respectively as the Tritons raced out to a 6-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. Hockett picked up the first goal of the season just 1:30 into the contest, converting an entry pass from Miho Umezawa. Sophomore Sydney Gstettenbauer tallied twice in a 29-second span to make it 3-0, then, 24 seconds apart, Bajorek netted a penalty shot and scored off a breakout pass from goalie Markayla Quane. Senior Britta Nordstrom's long range shot from up top completed the first period scoring.
Nordstrom finished with two goals on the day while junior Judy Emaus and freshman Audra Bloom rounded out the scoring for Sanders' club with one each. Quane, making her first start in the cage, was busy, collecting nine saves and making some nice outlet passes.
“For a season opener, I feel good about the way the team performed,” said Sanders. “We looked like we were ready to play and were aggressive and looking for opportunities on the offensive end.”
In a contest that was more decisive than the final score indicated, UCSD topped Wagner, 11-5, in Saturday's second game. Hockett connected for the first two goals of the game and the Tritons never trailed. Hockett and Emaus both finished with three goals and Bajorek chipped in with two.
UCSD dominated the first eight minutes but had only Hockett's two scores to show for it. Both offenses opened up in the second quarter and a six-on-five goal by Emaus gave the Tritons a 6-4 halftime edge. UCSD came out strong in the third period, scoring three of the next four goals and when Lauren Woods struck from half tank with one second on the clock, it put them up 8-4 heading into the final quarter. Emaus scored the first two goals of the fourth period on an inside lob and rebound tap in to all but seal the verdict.
Gstettenbauer and Bridgitte Bugaay recorded one goal each and Quane was again solid between the pipes.
“We created a lot of opportunities early that we weren't able to convert,” said Sanders. “I was pleased with the way we stayed composed and kept attacking.”
UCSD is back in action next weekend when it hosts the 16-team Triton Invitational, Saturday and Sunday at Canyonview Pool.
