LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 18th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team turned in a stellar defensive effort en route to a convincing 15-1 triumph over visiting Chapman University in a Western Water Polo Association matchup on Friday evening at Canyonview Pool. The Tritons scored the first 11 goals of the match and cruised to their most lopsided victory of the season on Senior Night.
A total of 10 different players got into the scoring column as UCSD's balanced attack overcame the Panthers. Stephanie Heinrich, who was one of five seniors honored prior to the match, scored three goals to lead the Tritons, while Hanalei Crowell, Audrey Mitchell, and Kelsey Schultz scored two goals each.
UCSD improves to 16-17 on the season, picking up a much-needed victory after dropping three of four at the Santa Clara Invitational last weekend. The Tritons have now won nine of their last 12 overall and eight of 10 in the WWPA.
Chapman falls to 7-21 overall and 0-9 in league play.
While the offense put up it's highest total since scoring 18 goals in a win over Cal State East Bay last week, the Triton defense was outstanding in its own right, forcing several turnovers and shot clock violations throughout the match.
Senior Markayla Quane was tremendous in the cage, swallowing up nearly every Chapman offering for three quarters before giving way to redshirt freshman Allie Taylor, who turned in a perfect fourth.
Stephanie Roy scored Chapman's only goal, preventing the shutout with 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
"We definitely wanted to come out and get a win on senior night," Quane said. "And all five of the seniors contributed tonight, so it was a great victory."
In addition to Heinrich's three scores, seniors Stephanie Bocian, Audra Bloom, and Ebey Sorenson registered one goal apiece.
Heinrich opened the scoring for UCSD, as four different Tritons found the net in the opening quarter. Mitchell scored two of the Tritons' three goals in the second and UCSD took a commanding 7-0 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Head coach Brad Kreutzkamp's squad would then add four goals in the third period and four in the fourth to reach the double-digit scoring mark for the third time in the last seven games.
The Tritons are back in the pool next Friday against San Diego State in their final home game of the season. First sprint is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
San Diego 15, Chapman 1
Chapman: 0-0-1-0=1
UCSD: 4-3-4-4=15
Goals:
Chapman: Roy
UCSD: Heinrich 3, Crowell 2, Mitchell 2, Schultz 2, Bates, Sorenson, Orozco, Bocian, Bloom, Keane
1st Quarter:
7:39 Heinrich (UCSD) 0-1
4:39 Crowell (UCSD) 0-2
3:07 Bates (UCSD) 0-3
2:41 Sorenson (UCSD) 0-4
2nd:
3:57 Schultz (UCSD) 0-5
3:28 Mitchell (UCSD) 0-6
0:49 Mitchell (UCSD) 0-7
3rd:
6:22 Crowell (UCSD) 0-8
4:01 Bloom (UCSD) 0-9
2:31 Bocian (UCSD) 0-10
1:53 Orozco (UCSD) 0-11
1:38 Roy (Chapman) 1-11
4th:
6:55 Heinrich (UCSD) 1-12
4:47 Keane (UCSD) 1-13
3:24 Heinrich (UCSD) 1-14
0:06 Schultz (UCSD) 1-15
