SANTA CLARA, Calif. –  Santa Clara women's water polo split their two games on day two of the Bronco Invitational. The Broncos defeated Cal State Monterey Bay in a thrilling 11-10 final that came down to the final minute before dropping the final game of the day, 16-5, against No. 25 Brown.
 
Game One: Santa Clara 11, Cal State Monterey Bay 10
 
Junior utility player Megan Chambliss was nothing short of fantastic for the Broncos, logging five goals, including what would prove to be the game-winner late in the contest as Santa Clara pulled away from Cal State Monterey Bay for an 11-10 victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It was a true back-and-forth affair from the opening whistle to the last. Cal State Monterey Bay led 2-1 after the opening period, but Santa Clara edged the Otters 4-3 in the second to make it a 5-5 game at the halftime intermission.
• The back-and-forth continued right into the third period where the teams matched each other once again at 3-3, setting up a fantastic final period that began deadlocked at 8-all.
• In that final period, it was Chambliss who opened the scoring first, capitalizing on a penalty shot for the 9-8 advantage. The Otters would answer on a powerplay with five minutes remaining, and the teams traded blows again on the next two possessions with Sydney Maccabe scoring on a five-meter attempt and CSMB's Stella Martin evening the score just 19 seconds later.
• Neither defense would budge for the next three-plus minutes of action until Chambliss, who also scored five goals in Santa Clara's first meeting against the Otters on Jan. 25, delivered her fifth and final score of the game with just 1:05 remaining.
• Martin had one last look just before the final buzzer, but this time she was unable to find her mark and the Broncos escaped with the 11-10 victory.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Chambliss finished the match 5-of-9 and also picked up a steal in the winning effort.
• Kate Rodman also had a hat trick with a trio of goals while Maccabe finished with a pair of her own.
• Maccabe also dished out a pair of assists to tie Haley Tassell and Francesca Moynihan for the team lead in that department.
• Rodman also matched her season-high of three steals to lead the team.
• Tassell got the start at keeper and made eight stops in her 32 minutes in the pool.

 
Game Two: No. 25 Brown 16, Santa Clara 5
 
The Broncos were held in check in their second match of the day against No. 25 Brown. After trailing by just three at the halftime intermission, Santa Clara was unable to contain the Bears as they cruised to a 16-5 final.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After falling behind 3-0 in the opening period, the Broncos matched Brown in the second with a pair of goals from Maccabe and Makenna Genco.
• Brown then blew the game wide open in the third period, outscoring the Broncos 5-0  to grab control on the contest.
• The Broncos tacked on three goals in the final period with Evelyn McLaughlin responsible for a pair to match her career-high.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Tassell got the start in the net and made seven saves and a pair of steals before giving way to freshman Fritzi Warneke in the final period.
• Chambliss drew a team-best three exclusions.

 
NEXT UP:
The Broncos will close out the Bronco Invitational on Sunday with a 12:45 p.m. PT contest against UC Merced.