SANTA CLARA, Calif- The Sonoma State water polo team's furious comeback in the fourth quarter fell just short of the RoadRunners Sunday afternoon at the Sullivan Aquatics Center on the campus of Santa Clara, as the Seawolves were edged by Cal State Bakersfield, 9-8. Sonoma's fourth place finish in the WWPA Championship's is the best finish in program history. Sonoma State concludes the 2009 season with an overall record of 12-20.

The Seawolves dug themselves a hole early, as the RoadRunners opened the contest with two straight goals. Kaitlin Torres and Alyson Moss each netted goals for Cal State Bakersfield, giving the RoadRunners an early 2-0 lead. Sonoma would bounce back, scoring two goals in the same minute, as Holly Armijo tied the match at 2-2 with 1:09 remaining in the first. Twenty seconds later Cal State Bakersfield's Shannon McKenzie fired one past Lysa Lombard, giving the RoadRunners a 3-2 lead heading into the second quarter.

Sonoma again had trouble defensively against an opponent in the second period, as Cal State Bakersfield outscored Sonoma State 4-1 in the quarter. Amanda Ortiz scored two of her four goals in the quarter for the RoadRunners, giving Cal State Bakersfield a commanding 7-3 advantage heading into the second half.

After being outscored again in the third quarter 2-1, the Seawolves cranked up their offense, scoring four goals in the fourth quarter alone. Laurel Stricklin scored her second goal of the quarter with 1:19 remaining in regulation, and Cal State Bakersfield leading 9-8. After a Sonoma timeout with :40 left, the Seawolves were unable to slip one past goal keeper Veronica Campbell, as the RoadRunners held on for third place.

Match Statistics

Sonoma State - 2 1 1 4 - 8
CS Bakersfield - 3 4 2 0 - 9

SSU Scoring: Courtney Rider (1), Holly Armijo (1), Laurel Stricklin (2), Jackie Snyder (1), Emily Pearce (1), Samantha Mullins (2)

SSU Goalie Saves: Lysa Lombard (8)