RIVERSIDE — The University of La Verne women's water polo team picked up two wins against NCAA Division I opponents at the annual Lancer Invitational, hosted by Cal Baptist, on March 11-12 at Lancer Aquatics Center.
The Leopards beat No. 22 Iona and George Washington on Saturday but lost to Cal Baptist on Friday. The scheduled game against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday evening was canceled due to inclement weather.
Saturday: La Verne 12, No. 22 Iona 11
Stephanie Rosero scored five goals to carry the Leopards to a 12-11 comeback victory over Iona.
The Leopards ripped off four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to pick up its second win against a Division I opponent.
After the Gaels took a 10-8 lead with 3:50 to go in the game, Katie Stelnicki and Catie Tuning struck to even it up at 10-10, Rosero put the Leopards on top with a penalty shot and Emily Randall scored a crucial insurance goal with 11 seconds left.
Randall's goal turned out to be the game winner as Iona's Rebecca Koshy found the back of the net with three seconds left.
Rosero almost singlehandedly stopped the game from tilting in Iona's favor earlier in the game.
The junior scored twice in a row in the second quarter to tie the game at 5-5 after the Gaels threatened to pull away from the Leopards after getting the first two goals of the quarter.
Rosero then notched the first two goals of the second half to tie the game at 7-7 and provided the springboard for La Verne's rally.
Saturday: La Verne 12, George Washington 6
Guarina Garcia and Stephanie Rosero each scored four goals to lead La Verne in a 12-6 win over George Washington.
The Leopards shut out the Colonials, 5-0, in the second quarter to take a 8-3 halftime lead and cruised to victory. La Verne tacked on three more unanswered goals--all on power play--in the third to take a 11-3 lead, putting the game out of reach.
George Washington put away three goals in the fourth but it was too little, too late.
Katie Stelnicki chipped two goals for La Verne. Lora Marquez-Salgado and Megan Little each had one.
Friday: Cal Baptist 10, La Verne 4
Coming off a grueling SCIAC win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Wednesday, the University of La Verne women's water polo team ran out steam against Division II Cal Baptist in a 10-4 loss on Friday.
La Verne started well as Guarina Garcia scored two goals and Emily Randall had one, and the game was tied 3-3 after the first quarter. But the Leopards only manged one goal the rest of the way while the Lancers kept up the pressure.
Cal Baptist added one goal in the second quarter to take a 4-3 lead into the break and outscored the Leopards, 6-1, in the second half.
Rosero had La Verne's lone goal in the second half.
Kocisis paced all players with four goals.
