Scoreboard

Junior Christine Uht led Gannon in assists (3) and steals (3) during Friday's season opener.

Women's Water Polo 2/19/2016 10:50:00 PM Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Women's Water Polo Team Opens 2016 Season with Setback Against WWPA Rival Cal State Monterey Bay

THE RUNDOWN

Score: Cal State Monterey Bay 14, Gannon 7
Records: Gannon (0-1), Cal State Monterey Bay (1-7)
Location: Erie, Pa. - Cathedral Prep High School's David Hallman Aquatics Center.
The Short Story: The Gannon women's water polo team was unable to overcome an early 10-2 deficit despite a five-goal fourth-quarter rally and dropped a 14-7 decision to Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) rival Cal State Monterey Bay Friday night in a non-conference match played as part of the Mercyhurst Invitational at Cathedral Prep High School's David Hallman Aquatics Center.

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HOW IT HAPPENED

Gannon scored the season's first goal 2:15 into the match when sophomore Alison Cooney (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) finished an assist from senior Shanen Lazenby (Erie, Pa./McDowell) for a 1-0 lead.
Cal State Monterey Bay answered with the next two goals, before the Lady Knights used the same Cooney-Lazenby scoring connection to tie the match at two with 1:44 remaining in the first quarter.
The Otters' next goal arguably swung the match in their favor. CSMB scored with nine seconds left to grab a 3-2 lead and push the West Coast club into the second quarter with a wave of momentum.
Cal State Monterey Bay shut out Gannon 4-0 during the second frame to assume a 7-2 edge at the intermission.
The shutout streak continued with a 3-0 blanking in the third quarter for a 10-2 CSMB lead.
Gannon finally stopped the run when sophomore Francesca Williamson (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley Liberal Arts) found the back of the net 11 seconds into the fourth quarter. The goal ended the Lady Knights' scoreless stretch of 17 minutes and 55 seconds.
The final eight minutes were played on even terms as Gannon finished with a 5-4 scoring advantage in the last stanza. Four different Lady Knights scored during the fourth quarter. Williamson netted two of the five goals.

GAME NOTES

Cooney led the Gannon scoring attack with a hat trick.
Williamson followed with two goals.
Sophomore Grace Villano (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and sophomore Liz Barr (Honolulu, Hawaii/'Iolani School) completed the scoring with one score each.
Junior Christine Uht (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and Lazenby dished out three and two assists, respectively. Uht also lead the team with three steals.
Lazenby won all four sprint-offs.
Junior Emily Rodriguez (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) started in goal, making five saves in 24 minutes of action.
Freshman Isabelle Vieira (Erie, Pa./Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy) made her first career save during eight minutes of relief action.
Gannon out-shot Cal State Monterey Bay 44-26.
The Otters scored on all seven power plays while the Lady Knights were only 1-of-6 with the advantage.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

Friday's contest represented Gannon's season opener.
Cal State Monterey Bay came in with seven matches against NCAA Division I competition under its belt.
Gannon first-year head coach Sean Morphy guided the women's water polo team for the first time. He coached the men's water polo team through the 2015 fall season.

UP NEXT

Gannon continues play at the Mercyhurst Invitational Saturday, February 21.
The Lady Knights battle NCAA Division I programs Siena at 1 p.m. and Villanova at 4 p.m.
The weekend concludes Sunday, February 22 with a pair of matches against St. Francis (N.Y.) at 12:45 p.m. and Washington & Jefferson at 4:30 p.m.

Players Mentioned