IRVINE, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Women's Water Polo team started out their 2024 season with a split at the Lancer Joust Tournament falling to No. 7 UC Irvine 12-6 and beating Fresno Pacific 18-2 on Friday afternoon at the Lancer Aquatic Center.
Pomona-Pitzer vs UC Irvine
The Sagehens were led by
Paityn Richardson who had the only multi-goal game for the Sagehens with two in the loss.
Brienz Lang,
Bella McGowan,
Lulu Gaither, and
Sydney Bowns all had one as well.
The Anteaters took an early lead scoring two goals inside the first two minutes of the game. By the end of the first quarter, UC Irvine had a commanding 4-0 advantage over Pomona-Pitzer.
the Sagehens fought back in the second quarter, managing to score two goals, including one from Gaither and one from Lang. However, UCI maintained control, scoring three additional goals to lead 7-2 at halftime.
In the third period, the Sagehens continued to push UCI, as Richardson scored two goals, bringing the score to 10-4.
The final quarter saw Pomona-Pitzer tie UCI with two goals each in the fourth, but UC Irvine's dominant performance in the first half secured their victory over Pomona-Pitzer in game one of the Lancer Joust.
Pomona-Pitzer vs Fresno Pacific
The Sagehens were led by
Sydney Bianchi and Lang who each netted a hat-trick with three goals.
Ayva Magna,
Mia Amberger and
Layla Szymczak had two while
Kaylee Stigar,
Lisbon Zeigler,
Gabby Lewis,
Nikki Rubottom, Gaither, and Richardson had one.
The Sagehens dominated in all four periods, scoring 4 goals in the first, 6 in the second, and maintaining a strong offensive presence with 4 goals in both the third and fourth periods.
The Sagehens blanked FPU in the first half while putting up four goals in the first from Richardson, Lang, Szymczak and Bianchi to take a quick 4-0 lead.
The Sagehens stretched that lead to 10-0 heading into halftime after Lang, Stigar, Amberger, Magna, and Bianchi found the back of the net with the game already in hand midway through.
Lewis, Amberger and Gaither netted goals in the third before Fresno Pacific scored their first goal of the game to make it 14-1 heading into the fourth.
The Sagehens ended the day with goals from Szymczak, Zeigler, Bianchi and Magna as they earned their first win of 2025.
Up Next: The Sagehens will next host Azusa Pacific on Wednesday, February 5
th at 7:00 p.m.