LOS ANGELES - The No. 2-seed Fresno State water polo team advances to the Golden Coast Conference semifinal game with a 21-7 win over the seventh-seeded CUI on Friday afternoon at the Burns Aquatic Center. Fresno State will face No. 3 Pacific tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT.
Senior Abbey Simshauser led the team statistically with four goals, one assist and two steals. Brooke Ochoa and Alexandra Schow added three goals each, while Hailey Andress and Kira Anderson both scored a pair.
Marit van der Kolk, Ella Simone, Caitlyn Mossman, Megan Cranley, Susanna Martinez, Ashley Williams, and Marley Garwick rounded out the scoring for the 'Dogs with one score each.
All three active goalkeepers saw action on Friday with Ida Tully-Giles getting the start with 16 minutes of play. Islay Martin-Hill came in relief in the third quarter and Abigayle Armstrong closed out the game with the final eight minutes.
How it happened
After nearly three scoreless minutes, CUI was called for an offensive foul that changed possession back to the Bulldogs and saw Abbey Simshauser move the ball over to Brooke Ochoa. Ochoa didn't like the look at the 5-meter line, so dished the assist back to Simshauser who finished the play at the back of the net.
CUI scored on its next possession, taking advantage of a 6-on-5 opportunity.
Fresno State scored two unanswered sparked by a second goal from Simshauser, then Caitlyn Mossman worked her magic at center to convert another goal that was set up by Ochoa.
The Eagles cut the lead back to one, with another powerplay opportunity. Ochoa worked down the pool quickly and fired off a shot to give the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead at the end of the first.
Marit van der Kolk won the opening sprint of the second quarter, and after an Eagle ejection, Simshauser finished the play to put Fresno State up 5-2. Down pool, van der Kolk stole the ball on the defensive and got it ahead to Simshauser for the quick strike and goal, putting the Bulldogs up 6-2 early in the second quarter.
Fresno State ran away with the lead to close out the first half as the 'Dogs outscored the Eagles 7-1 to close out the half with a 10-goal lead, 13-3.
The Bulldogs held CUI scoreless in the third while adding two more goals of their own by Andress and Kira Anderson. Fresno State led 15-3 at the end of the third.
Fresno State ran away with a 6-4 advantage in the fourth quarter, ending the game with a 21-7 win. With three goals in the final quarter, freshman Alexandra Schow scored a season-high goals to give the Bulldogs the final push to end the game.
Up Next
Fresno State will face the No. 3 seed Pacific in the semifinal tomorrow at 2 p.m. It will be the second time in a week that the 'Dogs and Tigers will face off, having competed in the final game of the regular season on April 18.
For more information on the Golden Coast Conference Championship, visit the tournament central.