SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Women's water polo continued conference play on the road last weekend with match-ups against Cal Baptist and No. 18 San Diego State. The Broncos fell short to both teams and will return home for the last two games of the regular season this weekend.
In the first game of the weekend, the Broncos faced the Cal Baptist Lancers. The Lancers struck first, scoring twice before Elizabeth Anderson answered with a goal for the Broncos. The Lancers scored once more and held a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Lancers kept the pace up and scored two more goals to open the second quarter. Erin Sheridan put one away, but the Lancers kept a 6-2 lead going into half.
The Lancers' put up tough defense and kept the Broncos scoreless in the third quarter. Goalie Sydney Estrella anchored the Bronco defense and only allowed one goal. The Broncos went into the fourth quarter down 7-2.
The Broncos earned a penalty shot, which was taken and converted by Anderson. The Lancers answered quickly with a goal, 9-3. Keri Clifford netted one more goal for the Broncos, but the Lancers ended the game on a 3 goal run and too home the 12-4 win.
The Broncos went on to face San Diego State on Saturday. The Aztecs played tight defense during the first half and only allowed Julia Peters, Keri Clifford and Kathryn Burke to score for the Broncos. The Aztecs tallied eight of their own, and the Broncos trailed 8-3 at half.
Elle Surber came out firing, scoring the first goal of the third quarter, 8-4 Aztecs lead. The Aztecs scored two more before Ashleigh Bandimere netted one of her own. In the last 30 seconds of the quarter, Surber put in one goal and the Aztecs managed to sneak in two, 12-6 Aztec advantage.
Peters, Surber and Bandimere each put in one more goal, but it wasn't enough. The Aztecs also scored three of their own and walked away with the 15-9 win.
The Broncos will host conference rivals Loyola Marymount and Azusa Pacific this week in their final regular season match-ups. The Golden Coast Conference Tournament will begin on April 23.
