Water polo recap: Rams chalk up two key conference wins

Calendar

Show:/

No Upcoming Events

April 16, 2011

By Zak Gilbert
Athletic Media Relations

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. –  CSU got a pair of historic individual efforts from Ali Pavlik and Melissa Fisher in the nightcap of a two-game afternoon, a 13-10 triumph over host Cal State Bakersfield at the Hillman Aquatics Center Saturday.

Five hours earlier, Orsi Nadasdy scored a game-winning goal with less than 90 seconds left in the final frame as CSU notched an impressive conference win over Cal State East Bay, 10-9, on Day 1 of the Roadrunner Invitational.

Pavlik, a senior attacker from Berwyn, Ill., scored seven goals – a single-game school record – to pace the Rams (11-14, 4-5 Western Water Polo Association) to their first program win over Bakersfield (7-28, 3-9 WWPA).

“Al just put the team on her shoulders and led the way,” coach Mike Moody said.

In front of a large crowd, the Rams’ MVP rose to the occasion, matching the intensity with three second-half goals to keep the Roadrunners at bay. Her seven scores eclipsed the previous record of six, shared by Kallie Berry (2009 vs. Chapman) and Andrea Victoria (2008 vs. Pacific). The win also avenged the Rams’ heart-breaking, last-second loss to the Roadrunners in the 2010 conference championships.

But Fisher was equally impressive against Bakersfield. The sophomore goalie posted a career-high 15 saves, one shy of the school record and tied for No. 5 on the Rams’ single-game list.

“It’s just like hockey,” Moody said. “Goalie is a mental thing. We had a couple rough games coming into the tournament, and she knew it. She just had a couple great games. Our defense was dictating to Bakersfield, and she knew when and where they were going to shoot. She was just on top of it all day.”

Fisher also was key in CSU’s dramatic win over East Bay. She had nine saves in the game, but four came in the crucial fourth period to set up Nadasdy’s dagger. Nadasdy had two goals, three steals and one field block, and drew four ejections in the contest. Meanwhile, Natalie Berge posted three goals, along with an assist, steal and field block.

The win snapped the Pioneers’ five-game winning streak, a stretch East Bay (19-12, 9-5 WWPA) had used to gain control of second place in the conference, and earn votes in this week’s national poll. East Bay entered the tournament 19-2 against unranked teams.

The two conference wins Saturday greatly helped the Rams in jockeying for final seeding as they await their regular-season finale Sunday, against Santa Clara at 11 a.m. MDT.

The Rams are seeking the highest conference seeding in program history, and can take a big step in that direction with another win Sunday. CSU has never been seeded higher than sixth. The conference tournament, April 29-May 1 in Hayward, Calif., seeds teams based on head-to-head record, strength of schedule and W-L mark within the conference, among other factors.

Santa Clara (12-17, 9-5 WWPA) sustained an 8-6 upset loss to host Bakersfield in the tournament opener Saturday morning, then rebounded to register an upset of its own, an 11-5 victory over East Bay.

“Santa Clara is a very, very disciplined team,” Moody said. “We’re certainly not overlooking the Santa Clara girls.”

Notes: With the win over the Roadrunners, CSU improved to 3-2 in true road games…The Rams also won consecutive conference tilts for the first time this season.

CSU 10, Cal State East Bay 9
CSU 3-1-3-3=10
CSUEB 3-2-2-2=9

Colorado State goals: Berge 3, Nadasdy 2, Pavlik 2, Schaefer 2, Rapp 1.
East Bay goals: Bryan 3, Comfori, Clark, Warren, Parkinen, Grunberger, Crain.
Saves: Fisher (CSU) 9; Pekarska (CSUEB) 5.

CSU 13, Cal State Bakersfield 10
CSU 4-4-3-2=13
CSUB 4-0-4-2=10

Colorado State goals: Pavlik 7, Berge 2, Berry 1, Nadasdy 1, Schaefer 1, Rapp 1.
Bakersfield goals: McKenzie 4, Hanson 3, Adams 2, Browning 1.
Saves: Fisher (CSU) 15; Pezzolla (CSUB) 5

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results