SEASIDE, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's water polo team battled Santa Clara and Cal State Monterey Bay tough, but fell in both non-conference matches Saturday on the road. The Sunbirds (0-5) gave SCU, who is receiving votes in the national poll, a scare in a 13-7 setback and were defeated by the Otters 10-6 in the nightcap.
 
In the opener against the Broncos, Nia Apodaca netted the first goal of the afternoon to give FPU an early lead. Kaitlin Fletcher also found the back of the cage in the quarter to make the score 2-2 after the opening period.
 
Apodaca added another goal the following quarter, which briefly gave the Sunbirds a 3-2 lead.  The Broncos responded with a 3-0 run, however. Emily Marr scored with 21 seconds left in the period to make the halftime deficit 5-4 for the Sunbirds.   
 
SCU (2-0) proved to be too strong in the second half and totaled eight goals to put away the game. FPU cut the Broncos' lead to a pair, 7-5, with a six-on-five goal from Alyssa Stevens with 3:43 remaining in the third, but wouldn't come any closer.
 
"It was a very physical game, but our women rose to the challenge," said assistant coach Kelly Suhovy. "We had some great shots to go along with nice defensive stops. The underclassmen received some good experience and we're learning to play team polo."
 
Courtney Hall made her 2015 debut for FPU in the cage and finished with 12 saves.
 
Stevens, Marr and Apodaca finished with two goals apiece for the Sunbirds. Fletcher scored the final goal, while Stevens added two assists.
 
In the nightcap, the Sunbirds struggled offensively in a very physical match against the Otters (2-5).
 
CSUMB, who led from start-to-finish, opened the game with two straight scores. Mallory Rettig found the back of the cage to make the score 2-1 after the first period.
 
Marr and Fletcher added goals in the second quarter, but the Otters tallied four scores to make the score 6-3 in favor of CSUMB at the intermission.
 
A 4-0 run from the Otters in the third and into the beginning of the fourth quarter put the game out of reach for the Sunbirds. Rettig, Marr and Apodaca scored in the final period for FPU to make the final 10-6.
 
Rettig and Marr led the offense with two goals apiece, while Fletcher and Apodaca added an assist each to go along with their single scores.
 
Kelsie Harvey blocked 13 shots in the cage for the FPU defense. Rettig and Apodaca recorded three steals apiece.
 
"Our athletes played hard and fought the entire game," said head coach Bryan Suhovy. "We struggled with finishing our opportunities we created. The team is looking forward to the re-match next week at home against Monterey."
 
FPU hosts CSUMB and CSU Bakersfield next weekend at Sunnyside Aquatics Center.