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WWP Win Graphic 4/15 Senior Day
7
Fresno Pacific FPU (12-14, 2-3 WWPA)
9
Winner Biola BU (14-14, 5-1 WWPA)
Fresno Pacific FPU
(12-14, 2-3 WWPA)
7
Final
9
Biola BU
(14-14, 5-1 WWPA)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Fresno Pacific FPU 0 1 3 3 7
Biola BU 1 4 2 2 9

Game Recap: Women's Water Polo | | Ethan McGarvey, Sports Information Director

Eagles in Charge

Biola finished its 2023 regular season with a victory at home on its senior day.

LA MIRADA --- BU's four-game homestand wrapped up along with the regular season on Saturday with a bout against Fresno Pacific (12-14, 2-3 WWPA). After celebrating the team's five seniors, Biola (14-14, 5-1 WWPA) was all business in the pool. The Eagles secured the top seed in the WWPA West division with a 9-7 win over the Sunbirds.

The season finale marked Senior Day for the Eagles. The team honored Samantha Rainey, Kourtney Pyle, Alyssa Pimienta, Maria Higginbotham, and Lauren Westphal before the game, as the group played a major part of the inaugural Biola women's water polo team in 2022.

Biola set the tone in the first half and cemented its place as the top team on Saturday. The defense did the leg work in the early going, holding FPU scoreless for the opening 11 and a half minutes of the game. A goal from Kourtney Pyle and an empty first for the visitors helped BU to a 1-0 lead through one period. 

The best offensive quarter came in the second period for Biola, netting four goals from four different Eagles. Veralie Naranjo and Rachel Spadt got it going early in the quarter to put the Eagles up 3-0. A FPU goal cut into the run but BU bounced back with two scores within a minute of each other to conjure a 5-1 halftime advantage.

A team effort helped keep the Sunbirds to one goal in the opening half. Maria Roldan Gonzalez was nifty with the steals, picking up six on the day. Rainey controlled the net with 11 saves in the afternoon.

After the break, FPU began to claw its way back into the game. The two teams traded blows in the third but FPU found the back of the net right before the buzzer for a 3-2 quarter in its favor. 

Once again, the two teams went even with one goal apiece early in the fourth before both went quiet. Neither team scored for over six minutes in the final stanza, as the Eagles clung to a 8-5 lead.

The Sunbirds had one final push as the final minute began to tick away. With 54 seconds left, the visitors tucked in a goal and then on their next possession they scored again, making for a one possession game with 34 seconds to go. 

Needing just one long and positive offensive opportunity, the Eagles delivered in the clutch. Lizzy Birch cashed in on the Eagles final attack, securing the 9-7 victory.

Spadt and Marija Mijuskovic were consistently active on the attack with a combined seven points. The duo each logged two goals, while Spadt dished out two assists and Mijuskovic grabbed one.

The BU squad will now turn its focus onto the WWPA Tournament which is set to begin on Friday, April 28 in O'Fallon, Illinois.
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