FRESNO, Calif. — The 11th-ranked University of California San Diego women's water polo team scored four goals in the fourth quarter to overcome a second-half deficit on the road, defeating Fresno State, 13-11, on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman Ciara Franke notched the final three goals of the contest, including the eventual game-winning score with 3:45 left to play before adding an insurance goal with 2:41 remaining. It capped a 4-0 Triton run to close the victory.
Franke and junior Shelby Stender scored three goals apiece for the second straight day, as UC San Diego (20-10, 4-0 WWPA) won for the 11th time in its last 12 games.
Junior Krista Schneider added a goal and a game-high four assists, while sophomore Jessee Ransone and freshman Grace Pevehouse each recorded two goals.
Freshman Taylor Onstott tallied one goal and one assist and junior Chanel Schilling scored a goal with two steals. In addition, both freshman goalkeeper Bennett Bugelli and sophomore goalkeeper Reilly Gallagher finished with six saves apiece.
The Tritons fell behind 3-0 in the first period and trailed 4-2 at the end of the quarter. Schneider's unassisted goal to start the second quarter cut the Tritons' deficit to one, and consecutive goals from Ransone knotted the score, 5-5, with 4:52 left in the second.
Trailing by one at halftime, Pevehouse and Stender each scored a goal within one minute apart to start the third, but Fresno State (4-14, 1-2 GCC) ended the quarter on a 3-0 run to take an 11-9 lead into the fourth.
UC San Diego takes next weekend off before getting set for a huge road showdown against No. 7-ranked UC Irvine on Friday, April 13, beginning at 7 p.m.
No. 11 UC San Diego 13, Fresno State 11
Score by Quarters
UCSD: 2 5 2 4 — 13
FS: 4 4 3 0 — 11
Goals
UCSD: Franke 3, Stender 3, Ransone 2, Onstott, Schneider, Pevehouse 2, Schilling.
FS: Nicholson 2, Woodruff 3, Magno, Coachman 2, Espinoza, Layne, Gross.
Saves
UCSD: Bugelli (W) 6, Gallagher 6.
FS: Garcia (L) 7, Duggins 1.
Records
FS: 4-14, 1-2 GCC
UCSD: 20-10, 4-0 WWPA
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