SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's water polo team fell in a hard-fought battle over the No. 25 ranked CSUN Matadors, 14-10, at the Sullivan Aquatic Center Friday. The Broncos fought till the end against a tough Matador team, their third straight matchup against a nationally ranked opponent. After putting together a 3-2 lead heading into the second period, CSUN scored six straight goals in the second and third period en route to a 14-10 victory. Kate Rodman led the Broncos with four goals, while Megan Chambliss scored two, her second game this season with two or more.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A goal by Libby Slater evened the score at 1-1, but after a CSUN (9-3) goal, back-to-back goals from Megan Chambliss and Kate Rodman put the Broncos up 3-2 at the end of the first period.
• Francesca Moynihan launched one into the back of the net to make it three straight goals for the Broncos (2-3) to begin the second period, but five straight CSUN goals put them up 7-4 heading into the half.
• Another CSUN goal made it 8-4, but Evelyn McLaughlin ended the cold streak for the Broncos finding the back of the net. Back-to-back CSUN goals made it 10-6 heading into the fourth period.
• A goal from Kate Rodman cut the deficit to 11-7, and after a CSUN goal, Mikayla Crowe scored her first tally, cutting the deficit to 12-8. Two straight goals from CSUN made it 14-8, and the Broncos closed the game with two straight goals from Rodman, but the rally was too little too late as CSUN held on 14-10.

NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Kate Rodman led all scorers with four goals for the Broncos, her second game with four or more.
• Megan Chambliss added two goals, her second game of the season with two or more.
• Libby Slater, Francesca Moynihan, and Mikayla Crowe rounded out the scoring for the Broncos.

 
UP NEXT: The Broncos will continue the Bronco Invitational with two games tomorrow at 12:45 p.m. vs. Cal State Monterey Bay and vs. Brown at 4:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.