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PIONEER WOMEN'S WATER POLO TEAM CAPTURES COLLEGIATE III WOMEN'S WATER POLO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP/ LISA DEROSSI-COOPER NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR/ GOALIE ELISE WILHELMSEN SELECTED PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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."

The Pioneers reached the championship game by defeating Cal Lutheran 8-7 and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 11-6 on May 3. Pioneer goalie Elise Wilhelmsen was solid in the net against Cal Lutheran as she turned away 14 shots including a potential tieing goal in the final seconds of regulation. Nikki Snyder and Mary Rosa each scored twice for the Pioneers. Laura Demeneces, Jeanette Demeneces, Lauren Binner, and Kelly Flaherty each scored a goal to contribute to the victory. Cal State East Bay defeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 11-6 in a semi-final match. Lauren Binner scored three goals while Nikki Snyder and Mary Rosa each scored twice. Elise Wilhelmsen turned away 14 shots. On May 2, the Pioneers defeated Colorado College 21-4 and Grove City College 13-5. Lauren Binner scored eight goals in the two victories. Liz Warren scored five goals including four against Colorado College.

For the fifth consecutive season, the Cal State East Bay women's water polo team competed in the Collegiate III National Championships. The Collegiate III National Championships took place May 2-4 at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. The eight-team field included Cal State East Bay, Cal Lutheran, U.C.Santa Cruz, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Carthage College, Grove City College, Colorado College, and Connecticut College. In 2007, the Pioneers finished 4th in the Collegiate III National Championships. The Pioneers were the 2005 runners-up in the Collegiate III Championships. In 2004, the Pioneers made their first ever post season apperance at the Collegiate III National Championships. Cal State East Bay finished 20-14 for the season and 13-4 versus Division III competition. The Pioneers were ranked as high as second in the Collegiate III National Poll.

Cal State East Bay took ninth place in the Western Water Polo Association Championships. The Pioneers opened championship play with an 8-5 defeat to Sonoma State. Mary Rosa led the Pioneers with two goals while goalie Elise Wilhelmsen recorded seven saves. Cal State East Bay scored four goals in the third quarter to defeat U.C. Santa Cruz 7-5. Mary Rosa scored three goals including two in the third quarter. Kelly Flaherty, Cindy Melendez, Laura Demeneces, and Jeanette Demeneces each scored a goal for the Pioneers. Elise Wilhelmsen had 12 saves. Cal State East Bay claimed ninth place with a 10-8 victory over Colorado State. Ashley Vieira scored three goals while Laura and Jeanette Demeneces added two each.