SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Fresno State water polo team claimed its fourth straight Golden Coast Conference championship tournament title with a 13-12 overtime victory over the No. 1 seeded LMU on Sunday afternoon at the Sullivan Aquatic Center in Santa Clara.
With the win, the Bulldogs advance to the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship.
A trio of Bulldogs scored hat tricks to lead scoring with Hailey Andress, Abbey Simshauser and Kaitlin Howarth scoring three apiece. Howarth was responsible for the go-ahead goal in overtime. Cynthia Rosa, Brooke Ochoa, Elisa Grim and Susanna Martinez all contributed with one each.
Paula Nieto Jasny was a game-changer, registering 11 saves in 38 minutes.
Ochoa was named the GCC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Nieto Jasny and Simshauser were named to the all-tournament team.
How it happened
It took only 21 seconds before the Bulldogs would score as Howarth scored her first off the assist by Simshauser. Rosa saw the hole and went for it to put the 'Dogs up 2-0 with 5:30 remaining in the first. Fresno State attacked on the counter as Martinez found the back of the net to score the third for the 'Dogs. LMU scored its first goal of the game at the 1:20 mark of the first quarter. Simshauser responded for the 'Dogs on a powerplay opportunity, catching the pass from Grim. At the end of the first, the 'Dogs led 4-1.
Andress had back-to-back shot attempts to open the second, but the LMU keeper was there to knock them down. Nieto Jasny came up big with another save on the Lions counterattack. Andress finally found the back of the net on a catch and shoot attempt off the assist from Simshauser to extend the lead to 5-1.
Nieto Jasny grabbed two more saves to keep LMU off the board as Simshauser and Andress connected yet again for the goal, this time by Simshauser. At the 2:44 mark of the second quarter, Andress and Simhsuaser were the power duo again as Andress put the 'Dogs up 7-1. LMU would call a timeout following the goal, but Nieto Jasny denied their offensive effort on their next attempt.
With 1:40 remaining until halftime, the Lions scored their second of the game. Ochoa fired a shot attempt that hit the bar, and a heads-up play by Grim on the rebound gave the 'Dogs another score. Megan Cranley hit Simshauser for the final goal of the half. Fresno State led 9-2 at the break.
LMU scored four goals in a row to open up the third quarter, and cut the Bulldogs' lead almost immediately. With 2:12 on the clock, Ochoa ended the scoring drought on a powerplay chance as Fresno State led 10-6. LMU responded with two more goals, cutting the lead to two. With 56 seconds left in the third, Andress found Howarth for goal number 11. At the end of the third, Fresno State led 11-8.
The Lions again opened up the fourth quarter with two in-a-row to bring it to a one-goal game. With 4:15 left in regulation, Ochoa hit Andress for the cross-cage goal to give Fresno State some buffer. The Lions didn't stop on the attack, scoring on a powerplay with 1:21 left in regulation and then eventually tying the game on a penalty shot with 44 seconds left in regulation. LMU took a big shot attempt to take the lead with about 30 seconds remaining, and Nieto Jasny stood her ground for the save. The Bulldogs would take a timeout and work an offensive possession, but couldn't find the net as the game went to overtime tied 12-12.
Both overtime periods were battles. Howarth scored the go-ahead goal mid-way through the first overtime period off the assist by Andress. LMU took two shot attempts in the first overtime period, but both missed the cage.
Defense was clutch for the Bulldogs in the second overtime period as Nieto Jasny came up with a big stop and Rosa was credited for the game-winning field block to keep LMU off the board.
Notable
Fresno State won its fourth straight GCC tournament title.
The Bulldogs punched their ticket to the 2024 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship.
Brooke Ochoa was named the GCC Tournament MVP for the second-consecutive year.
Head coach Natalie Benson earned her 100th win as Fresno State head coach on Sunday.
Fresno State snapped LMU's 20-game winning streak.
Up Next
Fresno State awaits its NCAA women's water polo match up with the selection show on Monday at 5 p.m.
The NCAA championship is hosted by Cal in Berkeley, Calif. On May 10-12.