SANTA BARBARA, Calif- Competition didn't get any easier for the Sonoma State Women's Water Polo team on day two of the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invite, losing both games played. The Seawolves saw the Anteaters of UC Irvine first, and were defeated 12-4.  In their last match of the weekend the Seawolves battled against Western Water Polo Association foe, Santa Clara, losing 6-4.


Game 1: UCI-12, SSU-4
Defense held strong to start the game as there would only be one goal in the first quarter by UC Irvine's Layne Kip at the 4:10 mark.  The Seawolves would not score their first point until a throw by Laura Kunz hit the back of the cage with 40 seconds left in the second quarter, putting the score at 4-1 at the end of the first half.

The second half started with the Anteaters making three straight goals in a span of 1:44.  Sonoma would counter with a streak of their own, pounding three goals in 3:39 span to put the score at 7-4 with 2:33 left in the third quarter.  Irvine would score two more goals in the third to show 9-4 on the scoreboard at the end of three quarters.  The Anteater defense would not allow the Seawolves to score another goal in the game.  Irvine would score three in the fourth quarter to end the game at a score of 12-4.

Bridgette Souza was the leading scorer for the Seawolves with two goals, both coming in the third quarter.  Natalie Del Carlo and Kunz each had one for Sonoma.  Jessy Cardey and Kip each provided hat tricks for the Anteaters and led all scorers.  Six other Irvine players had one goal each.  

Sonoma State's Ariel Lockshaw saw the cage and was credited with 12 saves in the loss.  Kate Avetoom was the starting goalie for the Anteaters and only needed four saves to hold off the Seawolves.


Game 2: Santa Clara-6, SSU-4
The second game of the day saw a hard fought match against two Western Water Polo Association members.  Santa Clara came out firing, getting four balls past the arms of Lockshaw in the first quarter.  Colette Reid would score the only Sonoma goal in the first at the 1:20 mark.  Each team notched two goals in the second quarter, one coming from the hand of SSU's Adrienne Bisharat, who scored her first goal since her four goal performance against Fresno Pacific on Jan. 15. 

With score close at 6-3, Sonoma State looked to make a move at second half comeback, but would fall short as the Seawolves would score the only goal in the second half on a shot by Alexa May that slapped the back of the cage with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.  Both teams would be held silent in the fourth and Sonoma State was defeated 6-4.

Bisharat, Alexa May, Lindsay Rangel, and Reid all shared the spotlight for the Seawolves, all scoring one goal apiece.  Claire Eadington was the leading scorer for the Broncos with two goals.  Marina Allen, Laura Espinosa, and Ashleigh Bandimere all contributed a lone goal to the Broncos win.

Lockshaw saw her fifth start in a row for the Seawolves and was once again a presence in the cage tallying six saves, accumulating 39 total saves for the weekend.

Sonoma State is now 1-4 overall and 0-1 in WWPA play.  The Seawolves will travel to Hayward next Friday for a conference match against Cal State East Bay at 11:30 a.m., before a non-conference game against Azusa Pacific at 2:30 p.m.