Fresno State Athletics

No. 15 Fresno State takes down No. 23 Azusa Pacific in GCC road win, 11-8
3/29/2019 5:43:00 PM | Water Polo
GLENDORA, Calif. – The No. 15 Fresno State water polo team earned its first Golden Coast Conference win of the season after defeating No. 23 Azusa Pacific, 11-8 in the Citrus College Aquatic Center on Friday afternoon. Emily Nicholson and Trystyn Vuori led the Bulldogs to victory with three goals apiece.
Fresno State improves to 9-12 (1-1 GCC) on the season.
How it happened – Claire Schade won the sprint to open the game. Fresno State struck first with a goal from Callie Woodruff. Azusa Pacific responded with back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead. Vuori tied the match finding the back of the net with 1:50 left in the quarter, off a pass from Daphne Guevremont. The Cougars sent another shot into the net to finish the quarter with a 3-2 lead.
Azusa Pacific won the sprint to start the second quarter. Isabella Magno scored for the Bulldogs off a pass from Nicholson, sparking a 5-0 run. Fresno State's defense held Azusa Pacific scoreless for the entire quarter taking a 7-3 lead into halftime.
The Cougars won the sprint to open the second half. Both teams played strong defense to start the second half, neither scoring for the first four minutes. Vuori attacked first for Fresno State, netting a goal with 3:34 left in the quarter. After nearly 13 minutes without a goal, Azusa Pacific managed to net back-to-back goals with 3:11 left in the third quarter. Nicholson scored her second goal of the match to give Fresno State a 9-5 lead. The Cougars scored one more goal before the end of the quarter, but the Bulldogs took a 9-6 lead into the final eight minutes.
Azusa Pacific won the sprint to start the fourth quarter. Vuori logged a hat trick, scoring one for the Bulldogs with 7:11 left in regulation. The Cougars responded with a goal, making it a 10-7 game with 5:11 left. Nicholson and Vuori teamed up for Fresno State's final goal of the game, giving Nicholson a hat trick on the game. Azusa Pacific would make one final offensive push, scoring with 1:26 left in the game but it was too much of a deficit to overcome for the Cougars. Fresno State took the road win 11-8.
On offense, Nicholson and Vuori led the Bulldogs with three goals and two assists apiece. Nicholson scored multiple goals for the sixth consecutive game. Mackenzie Richards played a strong game in goal for the Bulldogs, recording 10 saves. This is Richards' fifth game this season with 10 or more saves.
SCORING
Fresno State: 2, 5, 2, 2 | 11
Azusa Pacific: 3, 0, 3, 2 | 8
Fresno State Goals: Nicholson 3, Vuori 3, Magno 2, Coachman, Schade, Woodruff
What's next – Fresno State will continue GCC play on the road, facing Loyola Marymount on Saturday, March 30 at 12 p.m. PT.
"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
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Fresno State improves to 9-12 (1-1 GCC) on the season.
How it happened – Claire Schade won the sprint to open the game. Fresno State struck first with a goal from Callie Woodruff. Azusa Pacific responded with back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead. Vuori tied the match finding the back of the net with 1:50 left in the quarter, off a pass from Daphne Guevremont. The Cougars sent another shot into the net to finish the quarter with a 3-2 lead.
Azusa Pacific won the sprint to start the second quarter. Isabella Magno scored for the Bulldogs off a pass from Nicholson, sparking a 5-0 run. Fresno State's defense held Azusa Pacific scoreless for the entire quarter taking a 7-3 lead into halftime.
The Cougars won the sprint to open the second half. Both teams played strong defense to start the second half, neither scoring for the first four minutes. Vuori attacked first for Fresno State, netting a goal with 3:34 left in the quarter. After nearly 13 minutes without a goal, Azusa Pacific managed to net back-to-back goals with 3:11 left in the third quarter. Nicholson scored her second goal of the match to give Fresno State a 9-5 lead. The Cougars scored one more goal before the end of the quarter, but the Bulldogs took a 9-6 lead into the final eight minutes.
Azusa Pacific won the sprint to start the fourth quarter. Vuori logged a hat trick, scoring one for the Bulldogs with 7:11 left in regulation. The Cougars responded with a goal, making it a 10-7 game with 5:11 left. Nicholson and Vuori teamed up for Fresno State's final goal of the game, giving Nicholson a hat trick on the game. Azusa Pacific would make one final offensive push, scoring with 1:26 left in the game but it was too much of a deficit to overcome for the Cougars. Fresno State took the road win 11-8.
On offense, Nicholson and Vuori led the Bulldogs with three goals and two assists apiece. Nicholson scored multiple goals for the sixth consecutive game. Mackenzie Richards played a strong game in goal for the Bulldogs, recording 10 saves. This is Richards' fifth game this season with 10 or more saves.
SCORING
Fresno State: 2, 5, 2, 2 | 11
Azusa Pacific: 3, 0, 3, 2 | 8
Fresno State Goals: Nicholson 3, Vuori 3, Magno 2, Coachman, Schade, Woodruff
What's next – Fresno State will continue GCC play on the road, facing Loyola Marymount on Saturday, March 30 at 12 p.m. PT.
"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
WP: GCC Championship Quarterfinal vs CUI [4.25.25]
Saturday, April 26
WP highlight vs CUI [2.22.25]
Saturday, February 22
WP highlight vs Redlands [2.15.25]
Tuesday, February 18
WP highlight vs Fresno Pacific [2/15/25]
Saturday, February 15