NorCal Schools Sweep LouStrong Tournament
Jan. 20, 2015 MPSF Women's Water Polo Release 1
SAN JOSE STATE (4-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) hosted the first LouStrong Memorial Tournament, Jan. 16-18, where it picked up wins against Sonoma State 15-5, Cal State East Bay 17-4, CSU Monterey Bay 15-3, and Pacific, 13-9. Rae Lekness was the tournament's leading scorer with 16 goals, and was one of two players in the tournament to score five goals in a game (Victoria Smith, 5 vs. CSU East Bay) and the only player among the 11 teams to do it twice (five vs. Sonoma State and Pacific). Lekness'16 goals moved her into ninth-place on the San Jose State career goal-scoring list at 146, also looking to join 36 other MPSF players all-time to reach 200. Katelynn Thompson collected an MPSF season-opening high 11 saves vs. Pacific.
STANFORD (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) began defense of its NCAA Championship with two victories on Jan. 17 at San Jose State's LouStrong Memorial Tournament. The Cardinal blanked CSU Monterey Bay, 20-0, and beat Pacific 14-3. Kiley Neushul combined for five goals, including her 29th career hat trick in the Pacific game. Her career total stands at 164 goals, in pursuit of becoming the fourth Stanford player and 37th MPSF player all-time to reach 200. Freshman Katie Dudley debuted for the Cardinal by scoring three times over the two wins.
CALIFORNIA (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) had no trouble with UC Davis and Fresno Pacific, 15-4 and 25-1 outcomes respectively, opening the season at San Jose State's LouStrong Memorial Tournament. Dora Antal combined for six goals, including two within a 6-0 Cal lead vs. UCD. Freshman Carla Carrega totaled five goals, including her first career hat trick vs. FPU.
UCLA (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) hosted the UCLA Invitational on Jan. 17, cruising by Cal Baptist 16-5 and Loyola Marymount, 21-5. India Forster tallied four goals vs. the Lancers, while Rachel Fattel added three in that win before going for a game-high four vs. the Lions. Mackenzie Barr, Emily Donohoe and Alys Williams also delivered hat tricks in the LMU game, which the Bruins quickly led 7-0, and 14-2 by halftime. Devin Grab scored twice in her collegiate debut vs. CBU.
USC (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) outscored its opponents at the UCLA Invitational 57-8, defeating Cal Baptist 24-3 and CSU Bakersfield 33-5 to kick-off the season. Monica Vavic combined for 14 goals over the two wins, including eight vs. CSUB, tying the most by an MPSF player since 2007 (Sarah Harris of Pacific had nine in a game that year). Eight goals had been achieved two other times in the conference since then. Vavic owns 205 career goals, currently tied for 32nd in MPSF history. Stephania and Ioanna Haralabidis each had five-goal games vs. CSUB, and Brigitta Games totaled five goals in her first day collegiate day.
CSU BAKERSFIELD (0-2 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) competed at the UCLA Invitational (Jan. 17) to start its season. Ashley Paz and Niki DeLeon each totaled three goals through the USC and Loyola Marymount games.
ARIZONA STATE (0-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) opens its season this weekend at the UCSB Invitational (Jan. 23-25). The Sun Devils play two games each day, meeting CS Northridge and Cal Baptist Friday, UC San Diego and Azusa Pacific Saturday, and CSU Bakersfield, and the host UCSB Sunday.