Saturday’s DH vs. OUAZ leads to berth in Sunday’s Third Place Match
Cal Maritime vs. Ottawa University (Round Robin) | Cal Maritime vs. Ottawa University (Semifinal)
MERCED, Calif. – Even though Cal Maritime played a pair of games throughout the second day of action at the NAIA Women's Water Polo Final, its opponent was the same since the Keelhaulers ended round robin play in the tournament's morning session against Ottawa University, then opened the semifinal round a handful of hours later against the Spirit.
In their first matchup, the Spirit was responsible for all five goals scored in the opening period until Olivia Larwood and Meghan Abbott put CSUM on the board by finding the back of the cage with goals scored 50 seconds from one another in the final minutes of the first half.
Meghan King scored Cal Maritime's final two goals, the first with just under four minutes remaining in the third, and other with 90 seconds left to play in a game OUAZ won by a 15-4 result.
When these teams returned to UC Merced Aquatic Center later in the day, the Keelhaulers finished the Finals' inaugural semifinal with 21 shots, nine more than its total from their earlier matchup, and saw King and Larwood match their scoring totals with two and one goals, respectively.
As was the case in their first-ever head-to-head matchup, Ottawa University jumped out to an early lead — this time it was responsible for the game's first nine goals — and led from start to finish to clinch a spot in Sunday's championship match.
The Spirit will square off against a Westcliff squad that defeated UC Merced in Saturday's other semifinal. This means the Keelhaulers and Bobcats will meet once against with third place on the line in the NAIA's inaugural Women's Water Polo Final.
First sprint for the Keelhaulers' final match of the weekend is slated for 12 p.m. Water polo fans can access video and live stats links by visiting Tournament Central.
Ottawa University 17, Cal Maritime 3 — Semifinal Match
Cal Maritime Scoring
King 2, Larwood 1
Ottawa University Scoring
Crouch 3, Sepulveda 3, Miller 2, Wesemann 2, Crofchek 1, Higgenson 1, Hughes 1, Grato 1, Leivas 1, Mendoza 1, Rasmusson 1
Ottawa University 15, Cal Maritime 4 — Round Robin Match
Cal Maritime Scoring
King 2, Larwood 1
Ottawa University Scoring
Ackert 2, Byron 2, Patrick 2, Sepulveda 2, Crofchek 1, Crouch 1, Higginson 1, Leivas 1, Mendoza 1, Rowan 1, Rasmussen 1