Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, February 23
Thousand Oaks, Calif.
12 P.M. PT
Fresno State
vs
California Lutheran
No. 15 Fresno State set for 2019 Tina Finali Invitational
2/21/2019 4:01:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State water polo team will travel to Thousand Oaks, Calif. to compete in the 2019 Tina Finali Invitational hosted by Cal Lutheran on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Samuelson Aquatics Center. The Bulldogs will face Cal Lutheran at 12 p.m. PT, followed by an exhibition game against the University of Toronto at 4 p.m. PT.
This is the 12th year Cal Lutheran has hosted the invite. The invite will feature 12 games during the two days. The tournament will feature Azusa Pacific, Cal Baptist, Cal Lutheran, Fresno Pacific, Fresno State, La Verne, Sonoma State and the University of Toronto.
How to follow – Fans can follow along with live stats throughout the tournament via The Fosh.Â
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 3-8 (0-0 GCC) this season.
Tournament Notes:
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 15 in the national rankings. Fresno State has reached as high as No. 14 this season. Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for three consecutive weeks.
RANKED WINSÂ
Fresno State has knocked off two ranked opponents this season. Fresno State, unranked at the time, upset No. 13 Indiana 12-7 on Jan. 20. A week later, No. 17 Fresno State defeated No. 11 Long Beach State 11-9 on Jan. 26.
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THREE BULLDOGS EARN GCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fresno State leads the Golden Coast Conference with three GCC Player of the Week selections this season. Emily Nicholson was named the GCC Co-Player of the Week on on Jan. 24. Nicholson scored a career-high five goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-7 win over No. 13 Indiana. Trystyn Vuori was named the GCC Player of the Week on Jan. 31. Vuori led the Bulldogs to victory over the No. 11 49ers, scoring a career-high four goals. This was the first time in program history that Fresno State recorded back-to-back GCC Player of the Week Awards. Callie Woodruff was named the GCC Player of the Week on Feb. 14, after she helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23-4 win over Fresno Pacific. Woodruff tied her career-high with five goals in the game, she also dished one assist and swiped one steal.
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WELL-BALANCED OFFENSE
Fresno State has five players that have scored ten or more goals this season in Emily Nicholson (19), Callie Woodruff (18), Trystyn Vuori (18), Sydney Coachman (12) and Daphne Guevremont (10).
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2019 GCC PRESEASON POLL
The eight Golden Coast Conference women's water polo head coaches tabbed reigning GCC champion the University of the Pacific to win the 2019 regular season title. In just its second season of competition, Fresno State was picked to finish fourth. The poll put Pacific (48 votes, 5 first place votes), Loyola Marymount (43 votes, 2 first place votes) and San Diego State (38 votes) at the top of the conference. Fresno State (29 votes) and California Baptist (27 votes) were slated to finish in the middle. Azusa Pacific (18 votes), Santa Clara (14 votes) and Concordia (7 votes) filled the last three spots to round out the preseason rankings.
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OVERVIEWÂ
The Bulldogs return 10 letterwinners, including their top two scorers and All-GCC selections in Emily Nicholson and Callie Woodruff. Fresno State also returned goalkeeper Madelynn Garcia, after emerging as the primary goalie last season. Garcia finished the 2018 season with 132 saves and a team-high 25 steals. The Bulldogs bolster their roster with eight freshman for the upcoming season.
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LAST SEASONÂ
Fresno State wrapped up the program's inaugural season with a 7-18 (3-4 GCC) record and finished sixth in the Golden Coast Conference Championships. The first-year program had two All-GCC selections, including the Co-Newcomer of the Year Nicholson, who also received AWPC All-America honors.
SCOUTING THE REGALS
Cal Lutheran has an overall record of 4-2 this season.
Team Notes:
SCOUTING THE VARSITY BLUE
Toronto is 19-11 this season.
The game between the Bulldogs and the Varsity Blue will be an exhibition game, and will not count toward either team's record.Â
Toronto is on a competition tour of Southern California. The Varsity Blue will play 13 games in 10 days. It is the third consecutive year that Toronto has used the February Reading Week to seek top-level competition in California.Â
Team Notes:
"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
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
This is the 12th year Cal Lutheran has hosted the invite. The invite will feature 12 games during the two days. The tournament will feature Azusa Pacific, Cal Baptist, Cal Lutheran, Fresno Pacific, Fresno State, La Verne, Sonoma State and the University of Toronto.
How to follow – Fans can follow along with live stats throughout the tournament via The Fosh.Â
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 3-8 (0-0 GCC) this season.
Tournament Notes:
- Fresno State is nationally ranked No. 15.
- Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for three consecutive weeks.
- Fresno State's first 10 games this season were against opponents ranked within the Top 16. Â
- Fresno State is coming off a big 23-4 win over Fresno Pacific (Feb. 8).
- Fresno State's offense is averaging 9.27 goals per game.
- Sophomore Emily Nicholson leads the Bulldogs this season with 19Â goals, averaging 1.64 goals per game.
- Senior Mackenzie Richards has spent a majority of the minutes in the goal for the Bulldogs. Richards has recorded 10 or more saves in three games this season.
- Saturday's game against Cal Lutheran will mark the first meeting of the two programs.
- Saturday's game against Toronto will mark the first meeting of the two programs.
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 15 in the national rankings. Fresno State has reached as high as No. 14 this season. Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for three consecutive weeks.
RANKED WINSÂ
Fresno State has knocked off two ranked opponents this season. Fresno State, unranked at the time, upset No. 13 Indiana 12-7 on Jan. 20. A week later, No. 17 Fresno State defeated No. 11 Long Beach State 11-9 on Jan. 26.
Â
THREE BULLDOGS EARN GCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fresno State leads the Golden Coast Conference with three GCC Player of the Week selections this season. Emily Nicholson was named the GCC Co-Player of the Week on on Jan. 24. Nicholson scored a career-high five goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-7 win over No. 13 Indiana. Trystyn Vuori was named the GCC Player of the Week on Jan. 31. Vuori led the Bulldogs to victory over the No. 11 49ers, scoring a career-high four goals. This was the first time in program history that Fresno State recorded back-to-back GCC Player of the Week Awards. Callie Woodruff was named the GCC Player of the Week on Feb. 14, after she helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23-4 win over Fresno Pacific. Woodruff tied her career-high with five goals in the game, she also dished one assist and swiped one steal.
Â
WELL-BALANCED OFFENSE
Fresno State has five players that have scored ten or more goals this season in Emily Nicholson (19), Callie Woodruff (18), Trystyn Vuori (18), Sydney Coachman (12) and Daphne Guevremont (10).
Â
2019 GCC PRESEASON POLL
The eight Golden Coast Conference women's water polo head coaches tabbed reigning GCC champion the University of the Pacific to win the 2019 regular season title. In just its second season of competition, Fresno State was picked to finish fourth. The poll put Pacific (48 votes, 5 first place votes), Loyola Marymount (43 votes, 2 first place votes) and San Diego State (38 votes) at the top of the conference. Fresno State (29 votes) and California Baptist (27 votes) were slated to finish in the middle. Azusa Pacific (18 votes), Santa Clara (14 votes) and Concordia (7 votes) filled the last three spots to round out the preseason rankings.
Â
OVERVIEWÂ
The Bulldogs return 10 letterwinners, including their top two scorers and All-GCC selections in Emily Nicholson and Callie Woodruff. Fresno State also returned goalkeeper Madelynn Garcia, after emerging as the primary goalie last season. Garcia finished the 2018 season with 132 saves and a team-high 25 steals. The Bulldogs bolster their roster with eight freshman for the upcoming season.
Â
LAST SEASONÂ
Fresno State wrapped up the program's inaugural season with a 7-18 (3-4 GCC) record and finished sixth in the Golden Coast Conference Championships. The first-year program had two All-GCC selections, including the Co-Newcomer of the Year Nicholson, who also received AWPC All-America honors.
SCOUTING THE REGALS
Cal Lutheran has an overall record of 4-2 this season.
Team Notes:
- Cal Lutheran is 1-1 at home.
- Cal Lutheran is coming off an 11-4 win over Toronto (Feb. 19).
- Cal Lutheran has won three of its last four games. Â
- Cal Lutheran is outscoring its opponents 43-27 this season.
- In the CWPA Division III national rankings, Cal Lutheran is No. 2.
- Lexi Rond leads the Royals this season with 11 goals and one assist.
- Bailey Meyer is the Royal's starting goalkeeper, she has grabbed 52 saves and swiped 10 steals this season.
- Cal Lutheran returned two CWPA All-America honorees in Meyer, Victoria Rose Meek and Nikki Roed. Meyer and Roed were also First and Second Team All-SCIAC, respectively.
- Last season, Cal Lutheran finished with an overall 21-9 (12-2 SCIAC) record. The Royals advanced to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship for the second consecutive season. The Royals came up short in the championship, finishing in second place for the second consecutive year.
SCOUTING THE VARSITY BLUE
Toronto is 19-11 this season.
The game between the Bulldogs and the Varsity Blue will be an exhibition game, and will not count toward either team's record.Â
Toronto is on a competition tour of Southern California. The Varsity Blue will play 13 games in 10 days. It is the third consecutive year that Toronto has used the February Reading Week to seek top-level competition in California.Â
Team Notes:
- Toronto is the 2018 NCWP Champion, winning its sixth straight provincial title.
- Rhianna Wood was named the 2018 NCWP Championship MVP.
- Rachel Jaffe was won Most Valuable Goalkeeper honors for the second straight season.
- Toronto's head coach George Gross, Jr. was also claimed Coach of the Year honors.
- During the California tour, Toronto has recorded a 9-7 win over Chapman University in an exhibition game and a 5-4 win over the University of Redlands.
"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
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
Players Mentioned
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