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team pic with banner
Katherine Padilla
11
Cal State East Bay CSUEB (19-12)
12
Winner Biola BU (14-16)
Cal State East Bay CSUEB
(19-12)
11
Final
12
Biola BU
(14-16)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Cal State East Bay CSUEB 1 5 4 1 11
Biola BU 2 3 5 2 12

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

Champions Come Up Clutch

A thriller in the championship game resulted in Biola maintaining its crown as WWPA Champions.

LA MIRADA — Biola Women's Water Polo was successful in its defense of the WWPA crown with a 12-11 nail-biting victory on Sunday. The championship game was as close as they come but Biola grabbed the WWPA Championship for a second-straight year along with the automatic bid to the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships.

The Eagles defeated the No. 2 seed in the west, Cal State East Bay, to earn the WWPA Conference Title on Sunday. The win marked the seventh-consecutive win for Biola in the WWPA Tournament, dating back to 2022, while improving their record in 2024 to 14-16. 

"Everything goes to God," said Head Coach Sarah Orozco after the game. "We knew it would be a hard year. We knew that winning the first time is amazing but winning a second time with the target on your back has a lot more pressure and there are a lot more things to prove in a different way."

Biola got the best effort from the Pioneers with the title game resting on razor-thin margins throughout the afternoon. 

CSUEB led for a good portion of the bout, including nearly four minutes of the fourth and final quarter. The first goal of the fourth, belonged to the Pioneers, who took a 11-10 edge with 6:25 left on the clock.

A few minutes of back and forth was resolved with a power play from the Eagles. Veralie Naranjo created the opportunity by drawing an exclusion and immediately cashed in with a lob shot, knotting the game at 11 with under three minutes to go.

"We have had our ups and downs but we have pushed through everything," commented Naranjo. "I'm so grateful that we got to have this experience with them (the seniors) again."

As the seconds continued to tick, CSUEB looked to make a move with power play with just under two minutes on the clock. Alicia Fregoso made the stop and the Eagles were quickly on the attack.

Out of the penalty box, Stephanie Rodriguez made a break on the attack. The freshman took it the length of the pool and took on the CSUEB goalie, one-on-one. With the game on the line, Rodriguez sank the go-ahead goal with great touch around the keeper.
 

With 1:30 to defend their 12-11 lead, the Eagles stepped up. A field block stuffed the final attempt from the Pioneers offense, as BU took the celebratory plunge in the pool as the victors.

"We have pushed the message of playing until the final buzzer and I think today rang true to that, which helped get us that win," said Assistant Coach Sienna Jagielski.

Biola's leading goal-scorer on Sunday was Maria Roldan Gonzalez. The senior picked up three goals on the day and led all players in the tournament with 11 scores on the weekend. The BU standout was named the WWPA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and First Team All-Tournament.

"I'm very proud of my team." said Roldan Gonzalez. "I'm so grateful for everyone and everything that has happened today. We do it for God and we do it for each other."

Naranjo and Fregoso added to the accolades with First Team All-Tournament selections, as well. Rachel Spadt rounded out the all-tournament honorees for Biola with a second team recognition.

Biola will now advance to the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships set for May 9-12 in Berkley, California.
 
Gallery: (4-28-2024) WWP Champions vs CSUEB
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