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La Jolla, California - The UC San Diego women’s water polo team will wrap up its Western Water Polo Association regular-season slate with four conference games this weekend at The Bronco.
THE SCHEDULE
Games 28 & 29
Saturday, April 14 - 9:15 a.m.
No. 18 UC San Diego (15-12, 4-2) vs. Cal State East Bay (14-9, 7-4)
Saturday, April 14 – 4:45 p.m.
No. 18 UC San Diego (15-12, 4-2) vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (15-11, 4-5)
Sullivan Aquatic Center – Santa Clara, Calif.
Games 30 & 31
Sunday, April 15 - 7:30 a.m.
No. 18 UC San Diego (15-12, 4-2) vs. Cal State San Bernardino (4-26, 0-8)
Sunday, April 15 – 1:45 p.m.
No. 18 UC San Diego (15-12, 4-2) vs. CSU Bakersfield (14-9, 9-3)
Sullivan Aquatic Center – Santa Clara, Calif.
WWPA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT UCSD, APRIL 27-29
The 2012 Western Water Polo Association Women’s Championship Tournament will take place April 27-29 at Canyonview Aquatic Center. UCSD, looking to defend its 2011 conference title, plays host to eight other WWPA squads. The winner of the conference tournament advances to the eight-team NCAA Championships May 11-13 at San Diego State. Click here for the Tournament Central page and for more information on the conference championships.
SENIOR DAY LANDS ON HARPER CUP
Next Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. UCSD will end its regular season against San Diego State in the annual Harper Cup, named for current men’s water polo head coach and long-time women’s water polo head coach Denny Harper. Prior to the game, there will be a ceremony to honor the five Triton players who will graduate at the end of the quarter – Kirsten Bates, Katherine Biehle, Natalie Peng, Jessica Tran and Allie Taylor. Be sure to arrive early to catch the festivities.
CAL BAP RECAP
UCSD has won four of its last five games, its only loss coming last Friday to Cal Baptist. Sarah Lizotte scored four goals and Katherine Biehle added two, but the Tritons fell behind early while falling victim to a lethargic third quarter. Down 3-0 midway through the first quarter, UCSD edged within 5-4 by halftime. However, three consecutive goals early in the second by the Lancers essentially put the game out of reach as CBU went on to win its 14th game in its last 15 contests, 11-8. Melissa Bartow drew a game-high five ejections for the Tritons, but UCSD managed just a 1-for-9 clip on man-advantages.
JOCKEYING AT THE BRONCO
With eight WWPA teams slated for conference matches at the Bronco, results from the tournament are surely to have implications for seeding at the conference tournament, Apr. 27-29. LMU (10-0, 1.000) has virtually clinched its No. 1-seed for the conference tournament, but seeds No. 2-No. 4 appear to be up for grabs. CSU Bakersfield (9-3, .750), looks to have the inside track for the No. 2 spot, with UCSD (4-2, .667) trailing close behind for No. 3. Cal State East Bay (7-4, .636) has the fourth-highest WWPA winning percentage and has already beat CSUB this season. Wins over CSUEB and CSUB could clinch the No. 2-seed for UCSD.
HISTORICALLY The Tritons are 21-0 against their first three opponents at The Bronco- Cal State East Bay, Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State San Bernardino. UCSD lost for just the second time in the team’s all-time series to CSU Bakersfield earlier this year at the Triton Invitational, falling to the Roadrunners 12-11 on February 11. The Tritons have won 17 of 19 games against CSUB, including three victories during the 2011 season.
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