PIONEERS OPEN SEASON WITH EXHIBITION LOSS
HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay women's water polo team kicked off its 2010 season with a tough exhibition against the Olympic Club on Sunday at Pioneer Pool, falling to the San Francisco-based team, 12-8. The Olympic Club, comprised mostly of former Division I players, scored three unanswered goals in the final frame to secure the victory. Click for more
Jan. 15, 2010
2010 CAL STATE EAST BAY WOMEN'S WATER POLO PREVIEW
HAYWARD, Calif. - The 2010 spring season will mark the first in Division II for the Cal State East Bay women's water polo team. Though the team will face many of its familiar opponents, Head Coach Lisa De Rossi-Cooper and the Pioneers now have the distinct advantage of athletic scholarships to attract recruits from both near and far. With a core group of returners from the 2009 team and a strong group of new faces to bolster the roster, Cal State East Bay looks poised to make a mark in 2010. Click for more
PIONEERS FINISH FIFTH IN COLLEGIATE III WOMEN'S WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS
Cal State East Bay finished fifth in the Collegiate III Women's Water Polo Championship on May 1-3. The fifth place showing was the sixth consecutive season the Pioneers finished fifth or higher in the Collegiate III Championships. The Pioneers opened Collegiate III Championship play on May 1 with an 11-4 defeat to Pomona-Pitzer. The Pioneers only trailed 4-3 after two periods. Mary Rosa led the Pioneers in scoring with two goals. Brianna Finney and Jenna Casady accounted for the Pioneers two other scores. The Pioneers lost to U. of Redlands 11-10. The Pioneers trailed 5-1 after the first period and outscored Redlands 9-6 in the last three periods. Liz Warren, Mary Rosa, and Jenna Casady all scored twice for the Pioneers. On May 2, the Pioneers recorded a pair of victories over Washington and Jefferson 16-6 and Macalester 10-6. In the victory over Washington and Jefferson, Mary Rosa led all scorers with six goals. Brianna Finney and Liz Warren scored three and two goals respectively. Liz Warren and Jenna Casady each scored a pair of goals in the win over Macalester. The Pioneers captured fifth place in the championship on May 3 with a 12-5 victory over Washington and Jefferson. The Pioneers led the entire match and outscored Washington and Jefferson 5-1 in the final two periods. Mary Rosa and Lauren Griffin led the Pioneers with three goals each. Jenna Casady and Liz Warren followed with two goals. Jenna Casady and Mary Rosa were named to the All-Tournament Second Team. Brianna Finney received honorable mention recognition.
For the sixth consecutive season, the Pioneers competed in the National Collegiate III Women's Polo Championship. The Pioneers were the 2008 Collegiate III National Champions and placed in the top five in the championships the past six years. The Pioneers won 13 of their last 24 matches, were 18-17 for the season and finished 12-6 against Division III competition. Click for more
PIONEERS WELL REPRESENTED ON 2009 ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS
The Pioneer women's water polo team landed three players on the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches 2009 Women's All-American Teams. Mary Rosa, the Pioneers top goal scorer with 89, earned second team All-American honors. Liz Warren (84 goals) and Jenna Casady (56 goals) received honorable mention recognition. Click for more
PIONEER WOMEN'S WATER POLO TEAM CAPTURES COLLEGIATE III WOMEN'S WATER POLO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Cal State East Bay women's water polo team won its first ever national championship defeating Cal Lutheran University 7-6 in four overtimes in the Collegiate III Women's Water Polo National Championship title match on May 4. The match was a one goal margin for most of regulation play with Cal Lutheran leading 3-2 at halftime. Cal State East Bay scored two unanswered goals to take a 4-3 advantage after three quarters. Regulation play ended in a 5-5 tie. Water Polo regulations have two overtime quarters before sudden death. Cal Lutheran took a 6-5 lead after the first overtime. Cal State East Bay tied the match 6-6 in the second overtime period. As sudden death began, neither team scored in the third overtime. The Pioneers Ashley Vieira scored the winning goal near the end of the fourth overtime giving Cal State East Bay its first ever national championship. The last national championship for the Cal State East Bay Intercollgiate Athletic Program was women's soccer in 1988. Lisa DeRossi-Cooper was named Coach of the Year while goalie Elise Wilhelmsen was selected Most Valuable Player and first team all-tournament. Lauren Binner, who scored 12 goals in the championships, also earned first team all-tournament honors. Laura Demeneces was named second team all-tournament. Coach DeRossi-Cooper was pleased with the entire team play. "We played our game on both offense and defense. Everyone contributed and they stayed focused and relaxed." Click for more
