SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Bronco women's water polo team picked up two wins on Feb. 15 after hosting Cal Lutheran and Sonoma State at the Sullivan Aquatic Center. With this two game-winning streak, Santa Clara improves to 5-4 on the season.
The Broncos picked up their first win over the Regals with an 11-2 victory. The Broncos took control of the game in the first quarter, outscoring the Regals 3-0, with goals by Julia Peters, Erin Sheridan and Elle Surber.
Ellise Floreani started off the second quarter with a goal to give the Broncos the 4-0 lead. The Regals earned and converted a penalty shot for their first goal of the game. With a goal by Elizabeth Anderson and another by the Regals, the Broncos maintained the 5-2 lead going into half.
The Broncos played shutdown defense in the second half of the game, keeping the Regals scoreless. Goalie
Sydni Estrella recorded 10 saves in this game. With two goals by Anderson and one by
Keri Clifford, Peters,
Cathy Cantoni and Floreani, the Broncos closed out the game with the 11-2 win.
Later in the day, the Broncos faced the Sonoma State Seawolves. The Broncos defense rose to the occasion again, shutting out the Seawolves in the first quarter. With goals by Peters,
Ashleigh Bandimere, Surber and Anderson, the Broncos took the 4-0 lead.
The Broncos continued their run to start the second quarter with goals by Cantoni and Peters. The Seawolves ended the run, putting in their first goal, making it 6-1 going into half.
After half, the Broncos continued to control the game with Peters firing another goal into the net. Off an earned ejection, Anderson converted the man-up opportunity for her second goal of the game. Sheridan followed suit, finding the back of the net to make the lead 9-1. The Seawolves put in their second goal, but Blair Akerland scored the Broncos 10th goal of the game. The Seawolves went on a small two-goal run to end the third quarter as the Broncos' held a 10-4 advantage.
Senior co-captains Bandimere and Peters each scored the final two goals for the Broncos in the fourth quarter. The Broncos picked up their second win of the day, 12-9, over the Seawolves.
The team will now look forward to Feb. 21 as they are set to host two more teams, No. 13 Indiana and Cal State East Bay.
