2014 UCSD Triton Invitational Central

USC 25, Sonoma State 2 -- Box Score
Indiana 18, Sonoma State 5 -- Box Score

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The Sonoma State women's water polo team played their first two road games of the year today at the annual Triton Invitational in La Jolla, but came up winless in two contests against NCAA Division I powerhouses, including the two-time defending national champions from the University of Southern California and Indiana University.  The Seawolves fall to 0-3 this season.

With a mix of Division I and WWPA opponents at the invite, the Seawolves opened the day at 8:00 am against the University of Southern California Trojans, the two-time defending NCAA national champions. Just over 30 seconds into the game, the Trojans took a 1-0 lead and never looked back. By games end, the score was USC 25, SSU 2.

The Seawolves broke into the score column with 1:51 left in the first half on a goal by Jessica Stansfield. That was the lone goal for Sonoma State in the half which ended 18-1 in favor of the Trojans.

The third quarter was the quietest of the game with only two USC goals being scored; one by Avery Peterson and one by Ellie D'Ambra. Peterson would also go on to score another in the fourth quarter as well.

A second and final Seawolf goal was put in the net in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Noelle Herrera scored with 4:54 left in the game, making the score 23-2. Three more Trojan goals were added in the last 4:32, closing out the game the way it started.

Sonoma State then had about a four-hour break until their next game at 1:30 pm against the Hoosiers of Indiana University. The Hoosiers jumped on top of the Seawolves like the Trojans did, this time taking 40 seconds to go up 1-0. Shae Fournier started the scoring off with one of her three first quarter goals for the Hoosiers. The Seawolves eventually put five goals on the board, but fell in the end 18-5.

Stansfield again scored the Seawolves first goal, but did so in the first quarter with 25 seconds left. Like the first game, Herrera was also the second Seawolf to score, but this time in the second quarter. She had two goals in a row for Sonoma State in that second quarter, one at 5:31 and the last at 3:11. The first half then ended with a 12-3 Hoosier advantage.

Both Carliegh Robinson and Caitlin Risden scored their first goals of the Triton invitational in the fourth quarter with the game already out of reach. Robinson netted hers with 6:13 left while Risden followed with her goal at the 2:16 mark. The Hoosiers scoring attack was cut in half in the second half, only scoring six goals, but still winning the game 18-5.

The Seawolves will finish out the Triton Invitational on Sunday before traveling to Davis to face UC Davis and CSU Bakersfield in the Aggie Shootout on next Saturday (Feb. 15).