Tournament: Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championship
Location: Geneva, Ohio | SPIRE Institute
The Short Story: The host Gannon women's water polo team earned fifth place at the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championship following a 9-3 loss to third-seed Cal State Monterey Bay Saturday at the SPIRE Institute. Junior Shanen Lazenby (Erie, Pa. / McDowell) scored two of the Lady Knights' goals, including her 100th career goal on the first tally. The Lady Knights finished the season with a 3-15 overall mark in their first year in the association.
 
THE BASICS: MATCH ONE
Score: Cal State Monterey Bay 9, Gannon 3
Records: Cal State Monterey Bay (8-16), Gannon (3-15)
 
SCORES BY QUARTER (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - TOTAL)
Gannon (2 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 3)
Cal State Monterey Bay (2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 9)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gannon opened the scoring in the match just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Parked to the right of the goal, Lazenby received an arching pass from freshman Francesca Williamson (Chicago, Ill. / Mother McAuley Liberal Arts). The junior moved in before sneaking a shot over the right shoulder of Cal State Monterey Bay's goalkeeper. Forty-six seconds later, the Otters responded with a tally to tie the match at 1-1.
- Following consecutive goals, the Otters secured a one-goal lead with under three minutes remaining. The Otters' lead was short lived as Lazenby struck again with her second of the day to tie the match at 2-2. Matching the exact location of her previous goal, she found the gap between the goalkeeper and field player occupying the goal mouth.
- The Otters doubled up on the Lady Knights, 4-2, with a pair of goals to recapture the lead.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Rodriguez (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) turned away a five-meter shot, resulting in the Lady Knights storming back on their next offensive possession. Working the ball around the perimeter, junior Rachel Bednarek (Windermere, Fla. / Olympia) sent a cross pass over to freshman Liz Barr (Honolulu, Hawaii / 'Iolani School), who split the field player and goalkeeper to pull the Lady Knights to within one, 4-3, with 3:25 remaining in the opening half.
- Coming out of the break, the Otters pushed their lead to 6-3 with two tallies in the opening minute and 40 seconds, forcing a Lady Knight timeout.
- Cal State Monterey Bay added a tally in the third to take a 7-3 lead into the start of the fourth quarter. To seal the win, the Otters scored two goals in the final three minutes including a tally in the closing 30 seconds.
 
MATCH NOTES
- Lazenby led the Lady Knights' offense with two goals on 10 shots. Barr accounted for the other GU goal with a team-best 11 shots.
- Lazenby's first tally of the day was her 100th career goal.
- Barr posted a team-best five steals followed by sophomore Christine Uht (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) with four takeaways. Williamson assisted on two of the Lady Knights' goals.
- Emily Rodriguez compiled 11 blocks and two steals.
 
BEYOND THE MATCH
- Gannon completed its first season in the WWPA. The Lady Knights served as this year's host of the association championship.
- The Lady Knights opened action at the WWPA Championship with a 14-5 loss to second-seed Sonoma State April 24. Freshman Alison Cooney (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) recorded two goals.
- Lazenby led the Lady Knights' offense at the championship with three combined goals in the pair of matches, scoring a goal against Sonoma State.
 
GANNON GOALS (3)
Shanen Lazenby (2)
Liz Barr (1)
 
GANNON BLOCKS (11)
Emily Rodriguez (11)