Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, March 22
Fresno, CA
1 p.m. PT
Fresno State
13-9, 4-1GCC
14
vs
12
No. 13 San Diego State
15-9, 4-2GCC
1st quarter1
2nd quarter2
3rd quarter3
4th quarter4
FinalF
San Diego State
2
2
5
3
12
Fresno State
5
4
4
1
14
Team Stats
SDSU
FS
Shots
32
30
Goals
12
14
Assists
6
7
Points
18
21
Exclusions
11
9
Steals
6
7
Sprints
0
4
1
Hailey Andress
7:42
Hailey Andress
6:19
Riaan Bryant
3:55
Mimi Stoupas
3:47
Sammi Byers
3:23
Hailey Andress
1:20
Charley Stephens
0:58
2
Sydney Gish
6:08
Kira Anderson
5:50
Kira Anderson
1:51
Marit van der Kolk
1:11
Hailey Andress
0:09
Sydney Gish
0:01
3
Marit van der Kolk
7:34
Georgia Daly
6:50
Sydney Gish
6:25
Mimi Stoupas
5:56
Mimi Stoupas
5:28
Charley Stephens
2:23
Megan Holcomb
2:14
Megan Holcomb
1:31
Riaan Bryant
0:01
4
Claudia Valdes
6:00
Sydney Gish
3:27
Kira Anderson
2:18
Sammi Byers
1:22
Game Leaders
Shots
7
Goals
4
Assists
0
Points
4
Shots
6
Goals
2
Assists
2
Points
4
Shots
5
Goals
3
Assists
1
Points
4
Shots
3
Goals
2
Assists
1
Points
3
Players Mentioned
Attacker/Defender
/ Water PoloAttacker
/ Water PoloAttacker
/ Water Polo
Defender
/ Water Polo
Center
/ Water PoloAttacker
/ Water Polo
Defender
/ Water Polo
Photo by: Khon Saysamongdy
Bulldogs outlast Aztecs in GCC matchup
3/22/2026 3:09:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 13 Fresno State water polo team built an early lead and withstood a second-half push from No. 13 San Diego State to earn a 14-12 Golden Coast Conference victory on Sunday afternoon at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
The Bulldogs scored five goals in the opening quarter and carried that momentum through halftime before answering key Aztec runs down the stretch.
Fresno State is 13-9 overall and 4-1 in GCC play, with one regular season game left before the championship tournament.
How It Happened
Fresno State came out sharp from the opening sprint and wasted no time taking control. Hailey Andress opened the scoring on a penalty goal at the 7:42 mark of the first quarter, then added another less than two minutes later to put the 'Dogs in front early. After Riaan Bryant scored off an assist from Megan Cranley to make it 3-0, San Diego State answered with back-to-back goals to trim the margin to one.
The Bulldogs quickly swung momentum back in their favor late in the opening frame. Andress completed her hat trick on an exclusion opportunity with 1:20 left, and Charley Stephens scored 22 seconds later as Fresno State took a 5-2 lead into the second quarter.
The 'Dogs kept pressing in the second. After San Diego State cut into the lead, Kira Anderson answered with a goal at 5:50, then struck again on a power play with 1:51 to go in the half. Marit van der Kolk added a goal off a Bryant assist, and Andress scored again with nine seconds remaining to give Fresno State a 9-4 advantage at halftime.
Fresno State continued to build its cushion coming out of the break. Van der Kolk opened the third-quarter scoring, and Georgia Daly followed 44 seconds later off an assist from Anderson to stretch the lead to 11-4. San Diego State responded with a surge midway through the period, scoring three straight goals to cut into the margin, but Stephens stopped the run with 2:23 remaining. After the Aztecs added two more goals, Bryant converted on an exclusion chance with one second left in the quarter to send the Bulldogs into the fourth with a 13-9 lead.
San Diego State made one final push in the last eight minutes, scoring at 6:00 and again on a power-play goal at 3:27 to get within two. Fresno State had the answer when Anderson scored with 2:18 left, restoring a three-goal cushion. The Aztecs added one more late goal, but the Bulldogs held on to secure the 14-12 win.
Up Next
Fresno State will host Pacific for Senior Day next Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Aquatics Center. The Bulldogs will honor their senior class in a pregame ceremony. Admission is free.
The Bulldogs scored five goals in the opening quarter and carried that momentum through halftime before answering key Aztec runs down the stretch.
Fresno State is 13-9 overall and 4-1 in GCC play, with one regular season game left before the championship tournament.
How It Happened
Fresno State came out sharp from the opening sprint and wasted no time taking control. Hailey Andress opened the scoring on a penalty goal at the 7:42 mark of the first quarter, then added another less than two minutes later to put the 'Dogs in front early. After Riaan Bryant scored off an assist from Megan Cranley to make it 3-0, San Diego State answered with back-to-back goals to trim the margin to one.
The Bulldogs quickly swung momentum back in their favor late in the opening frame. Andress completed her hat trick on an exclusion opportunity with 1:20 left, and Charley Stephens scored 22 seconds later as Fresno State took a 5-2 lead into the second quarter.
The 'Dogs kept pressing in the second. After San Diego State cut into the lead, Kira Anderson answered with a goal at 5:50, then struck again on a power play with 1:51 to go in the half. Marit van der Kolk added a goal off a Bryant assist, and Andress scored again with nine seconds remaining to give Fresno State a 9-4 advantage at halftime.
Fresno State continued to build its cushion coming out of the break. Van der Kolk opened the third-quarter scoring, and Georgia Daly followed 44 seconds later off an assist from Anderson to stretch the lead to 11-4. San Diego State responded with a surge midway through the period, scoring three straight goals to cut into the margin, but Stephens stopped the run with 2:23 remaining. After the Aztecs added two more goals, Bryant converted on an exclusion chance with one second left in the quarter to send the Bulldogs into the fourth with a 13-9 lead.
San Diego State made one final push in the last eight minutes, scoring at 6:00 and again on a power-play goal at 3:27 to get within two. Fresno State had the answer when Anderson scored with 2:18 left, restoring a three-goal cushion. The Aztecs added one more late goal, but the Bulldogs held on to secure the 14-12 win.
Up Next
Fresno State will host Pacific for Senior Day next Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Aquatics Center. The Bulldogs will honor their senior class in a pregame ceremony. Admission is free.
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