FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 9 Fresno State water polo team battled tough against the No. 4-ranked Cal on Saturday afternoon at the Aquatics Center, but fell 13-10. Fresno State moves to 1-1 in the Polopalooza.
Hailey Andress led the team with three goals. Brooke Ochoa and Abbey Simshauser had two each, and Ashley Williams, Megan Cranley and Marit van der Kolk each scored one.
Islay Martin-Hill got her first career start in the cage, and played a full 32 minutes for the Bulldogs. She tallied three big saves, and had two steals.
Fresno State and Cal were evenly matched up with Cal having 31 shots to the Bulldogs' 30.
How it happened
Cal got out to a 7-1 lead to open the game as Fresno State was unable to get its offense moving. Williams scored the only goal for the Bulldogs during the Golden Bears' run, netting one with 15 seconds left in the first quarter. Andress scored on a power play opportunity and Simshauser followed up with another goal for the Bulldogs. Fresno State trailed 8-3 at halftime.
Fresno State outscored Cal 5-3 in the third quarter behind goals from Andress, Ochoa, Cranley and Van Der Kolk. Of the five goals in the third, two were converted penalty shots. The Bulldogs closed the gap to three at the end of the third quarter, 11-8.
The teams each scored two goals in the fourth, and the Bulldogs' attempt at the second half comeback fell short.
Up Next
Fresno State will play the final game of the Polopalooza tomorrow at 3 p.m. against UC San Diego. More information is available at GoBulldogs.com/Polopalooza25.