MPSF Heads to UCI Invitational
Feb. 17, 2015 MPSF Women's Water Polo Release 5
USC (10-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) swept the Cal Baptist Tournament, outscoring the field 106-9 in four games. The Trojans blasted Redlands 31-0, Cal Baptist 14-3, Pomona-Pitzer 30-4, and Occidental 31-2. Monica Vavic accumulated 22 goals on the weekend, including a program record nine vs. Pomona. Only two other MPSF players on record have ever scored nine goals in a game, both from Pacific (a former member in women's water polo). Sarah Harris was the last to do it on March 4, 2007, while Molly Smith did it three times in the late 90's. Vavic climbed into eighth-place all-time in the conference in career scoring with 241 goals, 45 away from Smith's top spot of 286. The Trojans face UCSB, along with either Arizona State or San Diego State, on day one of the UC Irvine Invitational (Feb. 21-22).
STANFORD (8-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) cruised in a doubleheader in Fresno (Feb. 14), 20-1 over Fresno Pacific and 18-6 over San Diego State, extending its win streak to 24 games dating back to last year's NCAA title run. Ashley Grossman delivered six goals and Kiley Neushul four against the Aztecs. The Cardinal takes on Pacific for their first UCI Invite game, followed by either San Jose State or CSUN on day one.
CALIFORNIA (12-1 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) has won five straight games with two more in Davis, 24-4 over Azusa Pacific and 12-5 over UC San Diego (Feb. 14). Dora Antal and Roser Tarrago combined for 16 goals. Antal had six against APU and three vs. UCSD, while Tarrago went four and three, respectively. The Bears meet UC Davis, followed by either Michigan or the host UC Irvine on day one of the UCI Invitational.
UCLA (10-1 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) defeated 2014 NCAA Tournament participant and No. 5 UC Irvine, 8-5 (Feb. 13). Sami Hill collected 13 saves in goal, bringing her career total to 804, the 11th goalkeeper in MPSF history to reach 800. Rachel Fattal put away a game-high four goals on four shots, and picked up two steals. UCLA meets Loyola Marymount in the first of four UCI Invite games, and then either Hawaii or UC San Diego in game two.
CSU BAKERSFIELD (7-6 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) made it six in a row with a doubleheader sweep of Whittier 14-9, and Redlands 17-6, in Riverside (Feb. 14). The Roadrunners are riding their longest win streak since 2012. Kristen Jensen combined for eight goals, while Nicola Barrett added six with a hat trick in each game. Jensen put away five of her eight vs. Whittier. CSUB is off this week, next in action Feb. 27 at the Cal Lutheran Invitational.
ARIZONA STATE (9-1 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) is coming off a bye week as it faces San Diego State in the first game of its UCI Invitational weekend, followed by either USC or UCSB. The Sun Devils defeated CSUN 12-7 in the third-place game of the UCSD Invitational (Feb. 8). The Sun Devils beat Sonoma State 16-2 and San Diego State 12-11 on the first day (Feb. 7). E.B. Keeve collected 14 saves vs. SDSU, anchoring the Sun Devils to an 8-0 start. She then had a 2015 MPSF-high 19 vs. UCI in the semifinals, and totaled 50 for the 4 games (12.50 S/G). Keeve ranks 12th in MPSF history with 792 career saves. Izabella Chiappini had a hat trick in each of the Saturday wins.
SAN JOSE STATE (9-3 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) was off last week, and returns to action at the UC Irvine Invitational (Feb. 21-22), first meeting CSUN and then Stanford or Pacific. The Spartans picked up their ninth win of the year with a decisive 15-6 outcome over UC Davis at Stanford (Jan. 31). Clara Espar Llaquet scored five goals in the win, and Bianca Seyfert had hat tricks in the win as well as against Stanford. Espar Llaquet had four goals in the Spartans' first loss of the year vs. UCI, while Katelynn Thompson picked up a career-high 14 saves.