SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara water polo junior defender Chloe Morrison had one of her best days in the pool as a Bronco on Thursday afternoon, scoring four goals, including the game-winner inside the final minute to lift the Broncos to a 12-11 victory over Cal Baptist.
Santa Clara trailed 9-7 heading into the final quarter of action, but rallied for five goals in the final frame. The Lancers struck first with a quick goal, but Lauren Voss and Elle Fredrickson scored on consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to 10-9. Cal Baptist had an answer to make it a two-score game once again with just 3:22 to play, however that was the extent of thier scoring as SCU clamped down defensively and pushed forward for the comeback. It was Morrison who head-started the three-goal scoring spree to the finish by capitalizing on a great assist from Maddie Clough with 2:41 on the clock. On the following possession, graduate Lauren Baglietto also scored off a Clough assist to tie things up at 11 with just over two minutes remaining. After a couple defensive stops on both ends, it came down to Morrison one last time. The Orinda, Calif. product scored a beautiful unassisted goal with just 38 seconds on the clock to give the Broncos what would prove to be a 12-11 advantage.
Cal Baptist had one final attempt inside 10 seconds to play, and fired a shot off at Liyara Senadheera, but the junior goalkeeper turned her away for her 12th save of the afternoon, giving the Broncos their first Golden Coast Conference victory of the season.
Santa Clara improved to 9-17 overall and 1-5 in league play while the Lancers dropped to 14-18 and 0-7 in the GCC.
Morrision finished with five total points on four goals and an assist, and also drew an exclusion. Baglietto and Kate Rodman scored two goals apiece while Fredrickson, Voss, Harper Daniels and Sydney Maccabe finished with a goal each. Clough was credited with four assists in the winning effort.
Cal Baptist got four goals from Jamie Hutton while keeper Ava Ratajczak came away with just four saves against 12 goals allowed.
The Broncos return to action this Saturday with a quick trip to Cal State East Bay before returning to the comfort of the Sullivan Aquatic Center on Sunday to take on Indiana at 11 a.m. PT.
