FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's water polo team faced #25 Azusa Pacific, suffering a 17-8 setback before falling 11-9 at the hands of WWPA-rival Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
Game One
Final: #25 Azusa Pacific 17, Fresno Pacific 8
Box Score
Records: APU (4-7), FPU (0-6)
Location: Fresno, Calif. | Sunnyside Aquatics Center
Series: FPU trails 14-10
 
Game Two
Final: Cal State Monterey Bay 11, Fresno Pacific 9
Box Score
Records: CSUMB (2-5), FPU (0-7)
Location: Fresno, Calif. | Sunnyside Aquatics Center
Series: FPU trails 14-6
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One
• Within the first minute of the match, FPU found the back of the net on a shot by Savannah Mangrum (assist: Amy Zaninovich).
• APU responded with two scores of their own, but a goal by Zaninovich (assist: Nonie-Ann Grant) evened things out with just under four minutes left in the period.
• The Cougars proceeded to go on a 9-2 run, taking an 11-4 lead into the half.
• Despite two early goals by the Sunbirds to start the third period, APU maintained the edge, outscoring the 'Birds for a final tally of 17-8.
 
Game Two
• CSUMB got off to a hot start, netting four unanswered goals before FPU's Katie Kisling put one through to get the Sunbirds on the board in the first period.
• Over the next two frames, the Sunbirds outscored the Otters by a margin of 7-4, highlighted by three goals from Jenna Collins.
• A shot by Nonie-Ann Grant (assist: Gabriella Garcia-Roy) tied things up with 57 seconds left in the third period, but the Otters responded with three straight goals in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
 
STATS:
Game One
• Freshman Amy Zaninovich netted four goals, two assists and a steal on the match.
• Other Sunbird scorers included Savannah Mangrum (two goals, one assist) and Sam Witt (one goal, one steal).
• In the cage, the 'Birds received saves from Gracie Bishop (two) and Madeline Frey (five).
 
Game Two
• Sophomores Jenna Collins and Katie Kisling scored three goals each for the Sunbirds, while Gabriella Garcia-Roy racked up three assists.
• Eight of the nine goals for FPU were assisted, bringing FPU's season percentage for goals assisted to .735.
• On defense, sophomore Madeline Frey logged a complete game, tallying six saves.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Azusa Pacific is currently ranked No.25 nationally.
• FPU won five of the last seven meetings with Cal State Monterey Bay prior to tonight.
• The last time the Otters and Sunbirds faced off, the 'Birds came out on top, earning head coach Bryan Suhovy his milestone 100th career win.
• With her hat-trick today, Kisling upped her total to 11 goals on the season, the most of any player on the team.
 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds | Instagram - @fpusunbirds | Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• FPU will be back in action at the Tina Finali Invitational on Friday, Feb. 22 at the Samuelson Aquatics Center in Thousand Oaks, California. Their first match is slated for 8:00 a.m. against Cal Lutheran.