'Dogs close out UCLA Mini Invite

LOS ANGELES– The Fresno State women's water polo team dropped both games of the UCLA Invite, against two top 10 teams, Saturday afternoon in the Spieker Aquatics Center. The No. 14 Bulldogs fell to No. 3 UCLA 11-8 and No. 7 Hawai'i 19-8.

"It was our third tough weekend in a row," said head coach Natalie Benson, "and we got better today by applying some defensive adjustments and learning about what gaps we have to close to be competitive at this level. We leave here having a better understanding of what we need to work on moving forward."

Fresno State falls to 2-8 on the season. All the opponents that the Bulldogs have faced this season have been ranked nationally within the top 16.

vs. No. 3 UCLA – Sydney Coachman scored the Bulldogs' first goal of the game, netting the only Fresno State goal in the first quarter. UCLA sent three goals to the back of the net, to take a 3-1 lead at the end of the quarter. The Bulldogs' offense was firing but the Bruins' goalkeeper stayed strong notching six saves.

The Bulldogs and the Bruins traded goals in the second quarter, both teams scoring two. Trystyn Vuori scored her first goal of the game and Callie Woodruff found the back of the net on an extraman attempt. UCLA finished the second quarter with a 5-3 lead.

The Bruins doubled their goals in the third quarter. The Bulldogs responded with three of their own, scored by three different Bulldogs. Sienna Jagielski netted her first collegiate goal as a Bulldog, followed by goals from Emily Diacono and Yesenia Preciado. UCLA took a 10-6 lead into the final quarter

Fresno State outscored the Bruins in the fourth quarter 2-1. Vuori and Diacono both scored their second goal of the game. UCLA would take the win 11-8.

Mackenzie Richards was in the goal for Fresno State, she grabbed eight saves. Diacono and Vuori were the only multi-goal scorers for the Bulldogs, with two goals apiece.

vs. No. 7 Hawai'i – Emily Nicholson scored her first goal of the day in the first quarter. Vuori and Jagielski also tacked on a goal apiece to make it three for Fresno State to start the game. The Rainbow Warriors made a strong offensive push netting seven goals to take a 7-3 lead.

In the second quarter, Daphne Guevremont and Vuori teamed up to put two more goals on the scoreboard for the Bulldogs. Hawaii answered back with four goals to seize an 11-5 lead at halftime.

Nicholson scored the Bulldogs' lone goal in the third quarter, netting her second of the game. The Rainbow Warriors continued to control the pace of the game scoring five goals to make it a 16-6 game at the end of the quarter.

In the final quarter, the Bulldogs put a pair of shots in the back of the net. The first goals of the game for Woodruff and Coachman. Fresno State's defense limited Hawai'i to three goals in the fourth quarter, making it the lowest scoring quarter for the Rainbow Warriors. Hawai'i would take the win 19-8.

Madelynn Garcia was in the goal for the Bulldogs, she logged six saves. Nicholson and Vuori were the only multi-goal scorers for the Bulldogs, with two goals apiece.

Game 1:
Fresno State: 1 | 2 | 3| 2
UCLA: 3 | 2 | 5 | 1

Fresno State Goals: Diacono 2, Vuori 2, Coachman 1, Jagielski 1, Preciado 1, Woodruff 1

Game 2:
Fresno State: 3 |2 | 1 | 2
Hawai'i: 7 | 4 | 5 | 3
Fresno State Goals: Nicholson 2, Vuori 2, Coachman 1, Guevremont 1, Jagielski 1, Woodruff 1

What's next –Fresno State will host its 2019 home opener against Fresno Pacific University on Friday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. PT in the Fresno State Aquatics Center.

"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.

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'Dogs close out UCLA Mini Invite

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Coachman

Emily Diacono

Madelynn Garcia

Daphne Guevremont

Sienna Jagielski

Emily Nicholson

Yesenia Preciado

Mackenzie Richards

Trystyn Vuori

Callie Woodruff

Fresno State Athletics