Second-half scoring surge vs. UC Merced highlights NAIA Finals’ first day
Cal Maritime-Westcliff Box Score | Cal Maritime-UC Merced Box Score
MERCED, Calif. – Cal Maritime scored seven of its 10 goals against tournament host UC Merced in the second half of Friday's round robin play at the NAIA Women' Water Polo finals in Merced, California, outscored the Bobcats by a 4-1 margin in the fourth period and nearly erased its 10-3 halftime deficit, thanks to a 5-1 scoring outburst that's started midway through the third period and extended into the fourth, but UCM's early offense created a hole too deep for the Keelhaulers to climb out of as they dropped the day's final match by a 14-10 result.
By finishing with a team-high four, Alanna Hardin was one of three of CSUM's players who scored multiple goals vs. UC Merced. Meghan Abbott (3) and Meghan King (2) were the other two Keelhaulers to comprise this list; Alanna Hardin also found the back of the cage against the Bobcats.
UC Merced could not contain King all night long since she assisted on four of her team's goals.
"I was proud of the way the girls battled throughout both of today's games, especially throughout the second half against UC Merced," said Hunter Luna, CSUM's acting head coach for the weekend since Matt De Trane was unable to make this tournament for personal reasons, "especially Sriya (Santhanam), Olivia (Larwood) and Meghan Abbott."
Added Luna, "the entire team made some smart passes and took smart shots, which fueled our comeback in the second half. I hope the momentum we created tonight carries over to tomorrow's matches; I want everyone to return to the pool with the same mindset, same attitude, and continue to compete throughout the weekend."
Cal Maritime will return to UC Merced Aquatic Center for Saturday's 11:30 a.m. dual vs. Ottawa University (AZ), the final matchup of round robin play before the semifinals commence at 5 p.m. with these same teams battling for a berth in the Finals' championship game.
Live stats and video stream links for all NAIA Finals matchup are available by visiting Tournament Central.
By defeating Westcliff and UC Merced yesterday, the Spirit hod tiebreakers over both teams and will play at 5 p.m. if CSUM secures a win Saturday morning. By losing to UC Merced and Westcliff on Friday, Cal Maritime does not hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against either team, which means it will play at 5 p.m. regardless of the outcome of Saturday morning's matches.
In other action that took place on Friday, Westcliff defeated Cal Maritime but lost to Ottawa University, which swept its matches by defeating the Bobcats in the tournament's opener.
In the Keelhaulers' tournament opener, Larwood recorded a team-high three of her team's six shots; King (2) and Abbott were collectively responsible for the other three as CSUM fell to Cal Pac Conference foe Westcliff.
Larwood also finished that match with a team-high three steals; Abbot and Alanna Hardin recorded the other three steals as the pair finished with two and one, respectively.
UC Merced 14, Cal Maritime 10
Cal Maritime Scoring
Larwood 4, Abbott 3, King 2, Hardin 1
UC Merced Scoring
Stokes 5, Martinez 4, Luna 2, Azevedo 1, Kimmel 1, Kissinger 1
Westcliff 20, Cal Maritime 0
Cal Maritime Scoring
None
Westcliff Scoring
Fernandez 3, Granados 3, Teodorovic 3, Donofrio 2, Desorbo 2, Lucy 2, Pereira 2, Kaplarevic 1, Kotarche 1, Sandoval 1