The Fresno State women’s water polo team secured a share of the regular season Golden Coast conference title. The senior-day win clinched the ‘Dogs as the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. 

The Bulldogs honored seven seniors alongside their families in the final home game of the season. Fresno State Head Coach Natalie Benson told The Collegian how it’s been for the seniors to work with a young team. 

“It’s been a great balance. Our older girls have done a great job at leading and our younger girls have done a great job adapting,” Benson said. 

The balance showed to be working for the ‘Dogs as they continue on a 10-game win streak. Fresno State took a 10-7 win against Loyola Marymount on April 1 at the Fresno State Aquatics Center. 

Attacker Cynthia Rosa started the ‘Dogs off with ball possession, but the Lions stepped up on defense, preventing them from scoring. At the five-minute mark, a strong throw by the Lions got them on the board 1-0. 

The Bulldogs didn’t back down in the water with a loose ball goal recovered by utility player Jullian Schultz that tied the game 1-1, with just over a minute in the first quarter. 

Shortly after, efficient ball movement got the Lions to once again take a one-point advantage. 

LMU ended the first quarter up 2-1. 

The ‘Dogs gained possession and attacker Kaitlin Howarth deposited a shot good to tie the game, but the Lions responded quickly with a goal to take back the lead. 

In a back-and-forth game, the Bulldogs applied pressure offensively. Attacker Hailey Andress took the ball down to score evening out the board, 3-3. 

The Bulldogs found momentum going on a 2-0 run with four minutes remaining in the half. First, Andress stayed striking to give the ‘Dogs a one-point lead on a fast throw to the goal. Then, a floater by utility player Brooke Ochoa brought a 5-3 lead, forcing the Lions to take a timeout. 

The timeout didn’t affect the Dogs’ ball movement. Attacker Daphne Guevremont found the back of the net to extend the lead.   

Fresno State led at halftime, 6-3. 

The ‘Dogs opened the second half gaining the possession but couldn’t convert. The Lions found rhythm on a 2-0 run to get back in the game, 6-5. 

Rosa stopped the run and scored off an assist to give the ‘Dogs a 2-point advantage, but the Lions always had a response. 

At the 3:30 mark, a 2-0 run by LMU tied the game at seven apiece, forcing Fresno State to take a timeout. 

After the timeout, the ‘Dogs bounced back, scoring back-to-back goals. Connections by Andress and Rosa put the Bulldogs up 9-7.

Andress ended as the top scorer of the game, going 3-for-5 in shooting, assisting the Bulldogs to victory. 

“As a team we were all working really well, it was really high energy. I think it was an effort of all of us combined to really help get the win,” Andress said. 

Opening the final period of the game, the defense stayed strong on both ends of the pool, causing a scoreless game for the first four minutes.

At the four-minute mark, Ochoa beat the goalie to score for the Bulldogs, 10-7. The Loins couldn’t come back at the end of the period. Fresno State defeated LMU 10-7.  

“If we just focus on what we can control, the here and now, preparing for the next team in front of us then that gives us composure. Just think about one game at a time,” Benson said.

The Bulldogs are now 6-0 in conference play and 14-7 overall. They will travel to play No. 4 UCLA on April 6 at the Spieker Aquatics Center.