CLAREMONT, Calif. – After cruising to a 12-6 win over Redlands to begin day two of the Convergence Tournament in Claremont on Saturday, the Sonoma State women's water polo team took a 9-8 lead into the fourth quarter against Whittier, but the Poets rallied for three goals, including the game-winner with 27 seconds left in regulation to come from behind and defeat the Seawolves 11-10.
Sonoma went 3-1 in the Convergence Tournament this weekend, improving to 5-12 this season. The Seawolves will head to Irvine on Sunday to play Concordia at 12:30 pm before returning home for their first home match of the season – a Saturday contest with WWPA-foe Cal State Monterey Bay.
Sonoma State 12, Redlands 6 After
Noelle Herrera netted her first of four goals just 40 seconds into the match, Redlands evened things up at 1-1 with a score three minutes later. However, Sonoma scored four unanswered goals and 10 of the next 12 to take a commanding 11-3 lead in the fourth quarter en route to the 12-6 win.
Herrera led all players with a season-high five goals, converting on all five shot attempts.
Kaysie Lewis also notched a hat trick with three goals.
Lily Carlon threw in two while
Shannon Baer and
Jessica Becker each caged one in the victory.
Andrea Mallul made six saves in the cage in 24 minutes of action before giving way to
Mikayla Kloss for the final period.
Whittier 11, Sonoma State 10 The Seawolves fell behind 2-0 in the first five minutes of the match before reeling off three consecutive goals by
Alexa May,
Nicole Browning and
Brittny Hummel to take a 3-2 lead. After the Poets knotted the match at 3-apiece, Herrera,
Nicole Browning and Carlon scored three straight for SSU to jump out to a 6-3 advantage three minutes before halftime.
Facing a 7-4 deficit at the intermission, Whittier began to chip away outscoring Sonoma 4-2 in the third period to trail by one, 9-8. Becker opened the fourth quarter with a goal to put the Seawolves up by two at 10-8, but the Poets scored twice in the next two minutes to tie the score at 10-all. Neither team could convert scoring chances until Whittier found the net with just 27 seconds left to take the 11-10 lead and the eventual win.
Lewis recorded another hat trick for her second of the day, leading Sonoma with three goals. Mallul made nine saves in the loss.
