Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Fresno Pacific
No. 8 Bulldogs post two big wins
2/20/2022 1:09:00 AM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – No. 8 Fresno State went 2-0 on the second day of the Fresno State Invite in the Aquatics Center on Saturday. The Bulldogs posted a dominant 21-5 win over Fresno Pacific before winning a thrilling overtime contest against No. 17 Indiana.
GAME 1
Fresno State opened the game on an 8-0 run. The Sunbirds scored netted one goal before the Bulldogs added on two more before the end of the first quarter to make it a 10-1 game.
Emily Nicholson continued the offensive dominance in the second half with a quarter-opening goal. The Bulldogs tallied two more goals, outscoring the Sunbirds 3-1, taking a 13-2 lead into the half.
Fresno State netted eight goals in the final two quarters while the FPU finished with three, taking the win 21-5.
Freshman Ella Simone scored a game-high four goals in the contest. Goalkeeper Paula Nieto Jasny logged eight saves.
GAME 2
Nicholson scored the opening goal of the contest with 3:09 left in the first quarter to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs went on a 3-0 run to start the second quarter, the Hoosiers were able to net one to make it a 4-1 game at the half.
Indiana opened the third quarter with two consecutive goals to make it a 4-3 game at the six-minute mark. Fanni Muzsnay found the back of the net to end the streak, but Indiana scored back-to-back goals to tie the game. The Hoosiers took their first lead of the game with 2:55 left. Muzsnay made another stellar play to knot the game 6-6. Sienna Jagielski hit a cross cage shot to retake the lead for the Bulldogs, but the Hoosiers retied the lead with 12 seconds left.
Indiana scored the first goal of the final quarter to take an 8-7 lead. Muzsnay responded for the Bulldogs to tie the game at eight goals apiece, sending the game into overtime.
Ochoa and Nicholson scored back-to-back goals to give the Bulldogs a two-goal advantage going into the second overtime period.
Indiana cut Fresno State's lead in half by scoring the first goal in the second overtime period. Shelby Vidmar made a clutch play to extend the Bulldogs' lead 11-9 with 1:48 left. Indiana was able to net one more goal before time expired, but Fresno State's defense was able to hold the one-goal lead to secure the first overtime win of the season.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Natalie Benson on the win over No. 17 Indiana…
"It was a fun and exciting match for us. We love close games like this. As a program, we talk about how the Valley breeds resilience. We want to embody the hard-working people of the Central Valley. That's who we represent and that's who we want to be. If we are going to talk about it then we want to be about it when it really matters. We had newcomers step up in Shelby Vidmar, Brooke Ochoa and Fanni Muzsnay. We had players step up and fill the roles that they needed to without fear, and that's what I'm most proud of."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Bulldogs play No. 13 Long Beach State at 12:30 p.m. and No. 11 San Jose State at 3:30 p.m.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
