LA JOLLA, Calif. - Senior Stephanie Heinrich scored four goals Friday night, leading the UC San Diego women's water polo team to a 10-5 home win over Santa Clara.
The Tritons, improving to 4-12 overall this season, held the Broncos scoreless from midway through the second period to early in the fourth and tallied four answered scores in that span to build a comfortable lead. Aside from Heinrich's four-goal performance, junior Hanalei Crowell and sophomore Kirsten Bates scored two apiece. Senior Audra Bloom and freshman Kim McComas added one goal each.
"There's a ton of upside with this team," Tritons' head coach Brad Kreutzkamp said. "We're starting to find ourselves on defense and with the six on fives. This is the time to get on a run."
Friday's 10-5 win marks the largest margin of victory for UCSD over SCU since April 6, 2002 and the first win against the Broncos since April 27, 2008. SCU falls to 7-8 overall with the loss.
After the Broncos' Rochelle Stowe sent a line drive shot into the back of the net with 3:46 to play in the second period, cutting UCSD's lead to 4-3, the Tritons rallied for two straight goals to end the half. Crowell converted a penalty shot at 2:35 to extend UCSD's advantage to 5-3. Less than 22 second later, Felicia Orozco sent a low, sharp pass to Heinrich cutting near the center of SCU's defensive zone. Heinrich fired a quick attempt past the Broncos' goalkeeper, sending the Tritons up 6-3 at the midway point.
UCSD's defense held SCU scoreless in the third, while McComas and Crowell padded the Tritons' lead. McComas sent a lob shot in from the far right of the formation at the 3:49 mark and Crowell tallied a score with 1:48 left in the quarter while the Broncos played one short because of an ejection.
The two squads would trade goals in the fourth period, leading to the eventual 10-5 result.
The Tritons return to action next weekend when they compete in the Aztec Invitational at San Diego State. UCSD's opponents include Wagner, Maryland, Princeton and Marist.
Scoring Summary
UC San Diego 10, Santa Clara 5
UCSD 3-3-2-2=10
SCU 2-1-0-2=5
Goals
UCSD: Heinrich 4, Crowell 2, Bates 2, Bloom, McComas
SCU: Stowe 3, Knutson, Safir
1st
4:23 UCSD #12 Heinrich, 1-0
3:04 SCU #16 Safir, 1-1
2:45 UCSD #12 Heinrich, 2-1
1:24 UCSD #2 Bates, 3-1
:12 SCU #8 Knutson, 3-2
2nd
5:13 UCSD #9 Bloom, 4-2
3:46 SCU #3 Stowe, 4-3
2:35 UCSD #17 Crowell, 5-3
2:04 UCSD #12 Heinrich, 6-3
3rd
3:49 UCSD #19 McComas, 7-3
1:48 UCSD #17 Crowell, 8-3
4th
7:07 SCU #3 Stowe, 8-4
6:45 UCSD #12 Heinrich, 9-4
5:50 UCSD #2 Bates, 10-4
2:58 SCU #3 Stowe, 10-5
