SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University women's water polo team stayed close to No. 23 Pacific early on Saturday, but a strong third period from the Tigers swung the game in their favor, as they downed the Broncos, 14-7, in a Golden Coast Conference game at Sullivan Aquatic Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The No. 23 Tigers (9-6, 3-1 GCC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead 2 1/2 minutes into the game, but Sydney Maccabe got Santa Clara (4-10, 0-2 GCC) on the board with a goal at the three-minute mark to cut the lead in half. She'd do it again 65 seconds later, netting her second goal to make it 4-2.
   
• Libby Slater had a hat trick on the day for the Broncos with three goals, all of them in the second half. Slater scored twice in the fourth period as the Broncos outscored the Tigers in the final period, 3-2. But it wasn't enough to overcome the Tigers' 6-1 offensive surge in the third period which put them up, 12-4, through three.
   
• Santa Clara limited Pacific to only one goal in the second period, as its defensive adjustments worked to near perfection. But the Broncos were shutout in the period. They only trailed, 6-3, at halftime, and 5-3 through the game's first eight minutes.
   
• Alicia Petkov, Dora Alaksza, and Ella Cowan each netted three goals for Pacific. Pacific goalkeeper Maja Lizy Dulic made 12 saves, while SCU's Haley Tassell recorded seven saves.

COMING UP

• The Broncos' home stand concludes next weekend with two games. They host their annual alumni game at 1 p.m. Saturday, then welcome Harvard on Sunday for a non-conference matchup. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.