IRVINE, Calif. — The Santa Clara University women's water polo team led into the fourth period Thursday on the road, but host Concordia University Irvine got two unanswered goals and held on for a 9-8 Golden Coast Conference victory at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Santa Clara and Concordia University Irvine traded goals a minute into the fourth period to sustain the Broncos' one-goal advantage at 8-7. Megan Chambliss put SCU back ahead by one after CUI's Sierrah Ferguson had tied it at 7-7.
   
• It was Ferguson who put the Golden Eagles ahead for good at 9-8 with a goal at the 2 minutes, 31 seconds mark of the fourth period. The Broncos took five shots in the game's final four minutes after CUI tied it at 8-8, but couldn't find the back of the net. Two of the shots hit the post, and another was saved by CUI goalkeeper Jaden Soto.
   
• Santa Clara had battled back in the second and third periods to take a one-goal lead. It trailed 3-1 after the first period and 4-2 early in the second, but outscored the Golden Eagles, 4-1, across the second and third frames to go ahead, 6-5. That's when the goal trading began, with CUI tying the game at 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8 before finally going ahead 9-8 in the fourth.
   
• Evelyn McLaughlin's goal right before the end of the third period gave the Broncos a 7-6 lead heading into the final frame. McLaughlin scored off an assist from goalkeeper Haley Tassell with only 12 seconds left on the third period clock.
   
• Chambliss led Santa Clara with three goals, while McLaughlin and Libby Slater both notched multi-score games with two each. Tassell collected seven saves, as well as an assist and a steal. Soto made nine saves in goal for the Golden Eagles.

COMING UP

• The Broncos head up the road to Orange, Calif., on Friday for a non-conference game at Chapman University starting at 3 p.m. Fans can find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.