Box Score FRESNO, Calif. — Biola Women's Water Polo had its first setback at the 2022 Western Water Polo Association Championships in the semifinals on Saturday. A slow start set Biola back in its matchup with Salem and it could never fully recover in a 16-11 loss.


Salem scored four goals within the first two minutes of play to open up a 4-0 lead in the first period. Biola finally found a score of its own when Rachel Spadt dented the twine at the 6:01 mark in the period.

The Salem offense would go on to score nine goals total in the first period and hold a 9-3 lead just eight minutes in. Biola would outscore them 3-2 in the second period, but the deficit was still too much as the game wore on.

Salem's offensive efficiency is what helped them keep Biola at arm's length throughout this game. They scored on 16 of their 26 total shots to shoot 62 percent for the contest. 

Biola had to work a bit harder for their offensive successes. The Eagles shot the ball 41 times to come away with their 11 goals. Three goals a piece from Spadt, Maria Roldan Gonzalez and Veralie Naranjo led the Eagles' effort.

A big difference for the vast disparity between shot attempts can be attributed to exclusions. Biola was called for just four exclusions over the course of this one, while the opposition had to make 12 trips to the penalty box. 

Biola was unable to turn the extra chances with a 6-on-5 into goals, though, keeping them just out of reach of Salem throughout.

The two teams equalled each other with five goals on both sides as the scoring slowed down considerably in the second half. 

After Salem's 9-3 advantage was built in the first period, the closest Biola came throughout the rest of the game was down four at 11-7. That came after a stretch of three-straight Biola goals, one each from Biola's hat trick scorers. 

The loss means that Biola's 2022 season will come to a close with the third-place contest against McKendree on Sunday morning at the Fresno State Aquatics Center. The Eagles and Bearcats will go head-to-head at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.