Fresno State Athletics
Friday, February 8
Fresno, Calif.
5:30 P.M. PT
Fresno State
23
vs
4
Fresno Pacific
No. 15 Fresno State overpowers FPU in home opener, 23-4
2/8/2019 11:22:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State water polo team defeated Fresno Pacific in its 2019 home opener 23-4 at the Fresno State Aquatics Center, Friday night. The Bulldogs' 23 goals set a new program record for most goals scored in a single-game.Â
"It's always great to play in our home pool in front of our families and fans," head coach Natalie Benson said. "It was a great home opener for our young team, we got almost everyone in the game. I thought we played well tonight from top to bottom. Our biggest point of emphasis going into this game was defense and we were able to hold FPU to four goals. I thought we stayed true to that point of emphasis tonight with our ball pressure and being able to effect where they wanted the ball to go. It was nice to see our freshman get in the water and play some significant minutes. We had three players score their first collegiate goals tonight, and that was really exciting. Everyone made the most of their time in the water."
#15 Fresno State improves to 3-8 (0-0 GCC) on the season, and 1-0 at home.
Callie Woodruff opened up scoring for the Bulldogs to take a 1-0 lead. The Sunbirds responded with a goal of their own to tie the game 1-1 with 5:35 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run, including back-to-back goals from Emily Nicholson, to take a 6-1 lead.
Woodruff opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals to start a 3-0 run for the Bulldogs. FPU ended the run with a goal of its own. Fresno State had a 9-2 lead with 2:47 left in the quarter. Nicholson and Trystyn Vuori would help the Bulldogs end the quarter with three straight goals to take a 12-2 lead into halftime.
Megan Greenwood scored her first goal of the season to start the third quarter. The Sunbirds got back on the board scoring a goal with 6:53 left in the quarter, 'Dogs were up 13-3. Fresno State would then rattle off a 5-0 run. Brooke Barlow scored her first collegiate goal as a Bulldog in the quarter. Fresno State would take an 18-3 lead into the final eight minutes.
Greenwood and Isabella Magno paired up for back-to-back Fresno State goals to start the fourth quarter. FPU scored its fourth and final goal of the game with 5:34 left in regulation. The Bulldogs would score three more goals before time expired. Kyla Whitelock and Emma Brooks both scored their first collegiate goals as Bulldogs in the final five minutes of the game. Fresno State would take the win 23-4.
Nicholson and Woodruff both tied their career-highs with five goals apiece. Mackenzie Richards and Madelynn Garcia split time in the goal, grabbing a combined four saves. As a team, the Bulldogs swiped a season-high 15 steals and dished a season-high 12 assists.
Scoring:
Fresno State: 6 | 6 | 6| 5
Fresno Pacific: 1 | 1 | 1 | 1
Fresno State Goals: Nicholson 5, Woodruff 5, Greenwood 4, Vuori 3, Magno 1, Coachman 1, Whitelock 1, Barlow 1, Schade 1, Brooks 1
What's next – Fresno State will travel to compete in the Tina Finali Tournament hosted by Cal Lutheran Feb. 23.
"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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"It's always great to play in our home pool in front of our families and fans," head coach Natalie Benson said. "It was a great home opener for our young team, we got almost everyone in the game. I thought we played well tonight from top to bottom. Our biggest point of emphasis going into this game was defense and we were able to hold FPU to four goals. I thought we stayed true to that point of emphasis tonight with our ball pressure and being able to effect where they wanted the ball to go. It was nice to see our freshman get in the water and play some significant minutes. We had three players score their first collegiate goals tonight, and that was really exciting. Everyone made the most of their time in the water."
#15 Fresno State improves to 3-8 (0-0 GCC) on the season, and 1-0 at home.
Callie Woodruff opened up scoring for the Bulldogs to take a 1-0 lead. The Sunbirds responded with a goal of their own to tie the game 1-1 with 5:35 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run, including back-to-back goals from Emily Nicholson, to take a 6-1 lead.
Woodruff opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals to start a 3-0 run for the Bulldogs. FPU ended the run with a goal of its own. Fresno State had a 9-2 lead with 2:47 left in the quarter. Nicholson and Trystyn Vuori would help the Bulldogs end the quarter with three straight goals to take a 12-2 lead into halftime.
Megan Greenwood scored her first goal of the season to start the third quarter. The Sunbirds got back on the board scoring a goal with 6:53 left in the quarter, 'Dogs were up 13-3. Fresno State would then rattle off a 5-0 run. Brooke Barlow scored her first collegiate goal as a Bulldog in the quarter. Fresno State would take an 18-3 lead into the final eight minutes.
Greenwood and Isabella Magno paired up for back-to-back Fresno State goals to start the fourth quarter. FPU scored its fourth and final goal of the game with 5:34 left in regulation. The Bulldogs would score three more goals before time expired. Kyla Whitelock and Emma Brooks both scored their first collegiate goals as Bulldogs in the final five minutes of the game. Fresno State would take the win 23-4.
Nicholson and Woodruff both tied their career-highs with five goals apiece. Mackenzie Richards and Madelynn Garcia split time in the goal, grabbing a combined four saves. As a team, the Bulldogs swiped a season-high 15 steals and dished a season-high 12 assists.
Scoring:
Fresno State: 6 | 6 | 6| 5
Fresno Pacific: 1 | 1 | 1 | 1
Fresno State Goals: Nicholson 5, Woodruff 5, Greenwood 4, Vuori 3, Magno 1, Coachman 1, Whitelock 1, Barlow 1, Schade 1, Brooks 1
What's next – Fresno State will travel to compete in the Tina Finali Tournament hosted by Cal Lutheran Feb. 23.
"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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Players Mentioned
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