FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's water polo team took on two of the nation's best on Saturday at the Fresno Pacific Invite, falling 21-5 to No. 8 Fresno State and 20-5 to No. 13 Long Beach State.
 
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"The morning game verses Fresno State is always a fun game on the schedule. Lots of family and friends involved in the Valley water polo community come out and make it a great atmosphere for our athletes. It's really a premier event for water polo in our area and the fans were amazing. We came out a bit too urgent, but throughout the game slowed the tempo down to our game and had some bright moments throughout and never once stop fighting. Heading into the night cap versus Long Beach State we made it an effort to play a better first quarter and have them play our tempo. We started the match playing some of the best, smartest water polo we've played all season. We had even more bright moments, especially on the defensive side of things and really challenged a top team in the nation at times. We knew heading into this weekend the games would be tough, but the women rose to the occasion and battled with some of the best teams in the nation and I am proud of them for battling from the first whistle to the last whistle." – assistant coach Kyle Eoff
 
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Fresno State opened up the first quarter strong with eight unanswered goals.
• The Sunbirds were able to get on the board with just under two minutes to go in the period thanks to a goal from Amy Zaninovich.
• The Bulldogs scored one more with 50 seconds left to take a 9-1 lead into the second quarter.
• Rosemary Chapman was the first to score in the second quarter, but Fresno State was able to add two more to make it 11-2 at halftime.
• The Bulldogs added two more in the third quarter, but a goal from Sam Dieterle added one more for the Sunbirds.
• Zaninovich and Dieterle both scored their second goals of the game, but Fresno Pacific was able to hold on to the win.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME

• Zaninovich and Dieterle each scored two goals in the game on 12 combined shots.
• Chapman went 1-for-1 on her shots in the contest.
• Camryn Berra finished with 11 saves.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Long Beach State opened the game with five goals in the first quarter and another in the second to take a 6-0 lead.
• Tatum Benson was able to put FPU on the board in the second quarter with her first goal of the day.
• Long Beach State added three more before Dieterle scored her third goal of the day with 1:14 to go in the first half.
• Long Beach State was able to add one more before the half, but the Sunbirds were able to open the third quarter with a goal from Emily Lopez-Ibarra.
• Long Beach added one more to close out the third quarter, followed by three in the fourth before Dieterle added one more to her tally to end the contest.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME

• Dieterle scored two more in the game against Long Beach State on three shots.
• Lopez-Ibarra netted two goals.
• Zaninovich, Chapman, Hannah Walker and Katie Bloom all recorded assists.
• Camryn Berra came away with nine saves.

 
UP NEXT
 
The Blue and Orange will close out the Fresno State Invite on Sunday with a matchup against No. 11 San Jose State at 10:30 a.m.
 
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