HAYWARD, Calif. - The 10th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team was triumphant for the third consecutive game, keeping Cal State East Bay scoreless in the first and fourth quarters for an 8-3 win in a non-conference matchup, Sunday at Chabot College Pool.
With the win, UCSD improve to 22-9. The Pioneers drop to 13-9.
Junior center Lauren Boyer recorded her ninth hat trick of the season, leading the Tritons with three goals. CSUEB got its three goals from three different players. Senior goalie Courtney Miller amassed six saves. Pioneer goalie Nikki Vaughn stopped 14 shots.
"I think our team is peaking right now," said head coach Brad Kreutzkamp. "Our communication has been great. We never take anything for granted and even though our shooting percentage wasn't the best this weekend, I'm confident it will come around."
The Tritons raced out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a Boyer powerplay goal and a score from senior attacker Laurel Kistler. UCSD held the Pioneers to zero in the opening period.
CSUEB scored first in the second frame as Tori Dettloff capitalized on the six-on-five. Boyer answered back with a powerplay goal of her own, but the Pioneers did not back down and cut the margin to one as Casey Rushforth caused a Triton turnover and put one away. UCSD was able to close the second period strong with two scores in the final minute. With 48 seconds left, senior attacker Emma Sasson found freshman center Chanel Schilling for the goal. With 24 seconds remaining, freshman attacker Krista Schneider found the back of the cage with an assist from Kistler.
Vaughn took over in the third quarter as she turned away five shots and kept the Tritons off the scoreboard. CSUEB scored one in the period to make it a two-goal game.
The Tritons put away three and shut out the Pioneers in the final frame. The UCSD goals came from senior attacker Julia Kirkland, sophomore utility Kayla Fedler and Boyer.
The Tritons will have 13 days off before hosting California Baptist on Saturday, April 16 at 12 p.m.
Box Score
UCSD 2 3 0 3 - 8
CSUEB 0 2 1 0 - 3
Goals
UCSD: Lauren Boyer 3, Laurel Kistler 1, Krista Schneider 1, Chanel Schilling 1, Kayla Fedler 1, Julia Kirkland 1
CSUEB: Sabrina Hatzer 1, Casey Rushforth 1, Tori Dettloff 1
Saves
UCSD: Courtney Miller 6
CSUEB: Nikki Vaughn 14
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