Keelhaulers sweep Sunday’s slate at second UC Merced tournament

MERCED, Calif. — Cal Maritime's experience at the UC Merced Tournament #2 started with a pair of losses, after falling 10-5 to the host Bobcats and 12-5 to UC Davis later that afternoon, but women's water polo provided the perfect response the following day when it returned to the Aquatics Center in Merced, California, for another pair of CWPA Sierra Pacific Division B matches.

After recording a 5-0 victory versus Saint Mary's (CA) in Sunday's opener, by virtue of a Gaels' forfeit, the Keelhaulers' offense caught fire in its tournament finale by scoring 15 goals to defeat UC Santa Cruz by 11.

Meghan Abbott led all players with 10 goals and started the match by scoring three of her team's first five to help CSUM build a 5-1 lead entering the final minute of the first period.

Responsible for three of four goals recorded in the second period, the Keelhaulers held a 9-2 lead at halftime and continued to play aggressively on both ends of the pool once action resumed by outscoring the Banana Slugs, 5-1, throughout the next eight minutes of action.

Leading 14-3 entering the final period, Abbott found the back of the cage for the final time in the match, which increased Cal Maritime's lead to 15-3 and her individual total to double digits.

Even though the Slugs scored three minutes later, CSUM prevented them from pulling any closer as the Keelhaulers ended their time in Merced with a 15-4 win.

Women's water polo will return to action on March 31 in the first of a three-day tournament taking place at UC Merced's home facility. Following that event, Cal Maritime will have 13 days to prep for its inaugural post-COVID appearance at the CWPA Sierra Pacific Division B Championship taking place in Moraga, California, at Saint Mary's (CA).

 

UC Merced Tournament #2
February 25-26, 2023
UC Merced Aquatics Center
Merced, Calif. 
Hosted by UC Merced

Game 1
UC Merced 10, Cal Maritime 5

Cal Maritime Scoring
Meghan Abbott 2, Hannah Durheim 2, Meghan King 1

UC Merced Scoring
Unavailable


Game 2
UC Davis 12, Cal Maritime 5

Cal Maritime Scoring
Meghan Abbott 3, Hannah Durheim 1, Maya Sortor 1

UC Davis Scoring
Unavailable


Game 3
Cal Maritime 5, Saint Mary's (CA) 0

Cal Maritime Scoring
Won by forfeit

Saint Mary's (CA) Scoring
Lost by forfeit


Game 4
Cal Maritime 15, UC Santa Cruz 4

Cal Maritime Scoring
Meghan Abbott 10, Meghan King 3, Hannah Durheim 1, Olivia Larwood 1

UC Santa Cruz Scoring
Unavailable