Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, January 19
Santa Barbara, Calif.
2:45 P.M. PT
Fresno State
3
vs
19
USC
Photo by: Keith Kountz
'Dogs finish day one of UCSB Invite
1/19/2019 7:46:00 PM | Water Polo
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Fresno State water polo team kicked off its 2019 season at the UCSB Invitational on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs saw tough competition and learned valuable lessons, ultimately falling to #16 Santa Barbara and #1 USC.
"As we move into season two of competition, it's important to show our players what Division I water polo looks like," head coach Natalie Benson. "That way we ensure that we learn from the best, so we can apply those lessons into conference play when it really matters. I think we got a lot of valuable lessons out of today. We will continue to learn and grow during our games tomorrow. We have a tough road ahead of us, but it's all for the greater good of getting better for conference play. It doesn't matter what our record is right now as long as we are ready for conference play, it'll all be worth it."
vs. #16 UCSB – The Bulldogs struck first when Claire Schade scored the first goal of the 2019 season, to take a 1-0 lead. UCSB quickly answered with a goal of its own to tie the game. Sydney Coachman gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead over the Gauchos with her first goal of the season. The Gauchos would score back-to-back goals to take a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
UCSB had a strong second quarter, holding Fresno State scoreless for the entirety of the quarter. The Gauchos would take an 8-2. Emily Nicholson led the Bulldogs through the third quarter, scoring her first two goals of the season. The Gauchos would keep up the pace, scoring four of their own to take a 12-4 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Callie Woodruff found the back of the net to score the Bulldogs' final goal of the game. Unable to slow the Gauchos' offense, Fresno State would fall 15-5.
vs. #1 USC – Fresno State jumped back in the pool to face the reigning national champion. The Trojans started the game on a 4-0 run, but the Bulldogs fought back. Nicholson scored her third goal of the day to put Fresno State on the scoreboard. Coachman scored her second goal of the day to keep the Bulldogs in the game. The Trojans would score two more, to make it 6-2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Trojans kept the Bulldogs out of the net in the second quarter, taking a 13-2 lead. Isabella Magno scored her first goal of the season in the third quarter, getting Fresno State back on the board. USC had a 13-3 lead after the third. The Trojans finished the fourth quarter with a 19-3 victory.
Game 1:
Fresno State: 2, 0, 2, 1 | 5
UCSB: 3, 5, 4, 3 | 15
Fresno State Goals: Nicholson 2, Coachman, Schade, Woodruff
Game 2:
Fresno State: 2, 0, 1, 0 | 3
USC: 6, 7, 3, 3 | 19
Fresno State Goals: Coachman, Nicholson, Magno
What's next -- Fresno State will play Indiana Sunday, Jan. 20 at 8:30 a.m. PT, followed by Michigan at 2:00 p.m. PT.Â
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Â
"As we move into season two of competition, it's important to show our players what Division I water polo looks like," head coach Natalie Benson. "That way we ensure that we learn from the best, so we can apply those lessons into conference play when it really matters. I think we got a lot of valuable lessons out of today. We will continue to learn and grow during our games tomorrow. We have a tough road ahead of us, but it's all for the greater good of getting better for conference play. It doesn't matter what our record is right now as long as we are ready for conference play, it'll all be worth it."
vs. #16 UCSB – The Bulldogs struck first when Claire Schade scored the first goal of the 2019 season, to take a 1-0 lead. UCSB quickly answered with a goal of its own to tie the game. Sydney Coachman gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead over the Gauchos with her first goal of the season. The Gauchos would score back-to-back goals to take a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
UCSB had a strong second quarter, holding Fresno State scoreless for the entirety of the quarter. The Gauchos would take an 8-2. Emily Nicholson led the Bulldogs through the third quarter, scoring her first two goals of the season. The Gauchos would keep up the pace, scoring four of their own to take a 12-4 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Callie Woodruff found the back of the net to score the Bulldogs' final goal of the game. Unable to slow the Gauchos' offense, Fresno State would fall 15-5.
vs. #1 USC – Fresno State jumped back in the pool to face the reigning national champion. The Trojans started the game on a 4-0 run, but the Bulldogs fought back. Nicholson scored her third goal of the day to put Fresno State on the scoreboard. Coachman scored her second goal of the day to keep the Bulldogs in the game. The Trojans would score two more, to make it 6-2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Trojans kept the Bulldogs out of the net in the second quarter, taking a 13-2 lead. Isabella Magno scored her first goal of the season in the third quarter, getting Fresno State back on the board. USC had a 13-3 lead after the third. The Trojans finished the fourth quarter with a 19-3 victory.
Game 1:
Fresno State: 2, 0, 2, 1 | 5
UCSB: 3, 5, 4, 3 | 15
Fresno State Goals: Nicholson 2, Coachman, Schade, Woodruff
Game 2:
Fresno State: 2, 0, 1, 0 | 3
USC: 6, 7, 3, 3 | 19
Fresno State Goals: Coachman, Nicholson, Magno
What's next -- Fresno State will play Indiana Sunday, Jan. 20 at 8:30 a.m. PT, followed by Michigan at 2:00 p.m. PT.Â
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Water Polo
/ Water Polo
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/ Water Polo
/ Water Polo
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