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Tigers enjoy success at Roadrunner Invitational and California series

The women’s water polo team (16-2) had an eventful spring break, claiming two victories in a three-game series in California following the successful Roadrunner Invitational. The team faced Pomona-Pitzer (8-16), No. 16 Long Beach Island (11-9), and No. 1 USC (22-0) on their mid-week road trip along the West Coast that concluded with conclusive wins over Pomona-Pitzer and Long Beach State.

The team had just competed in the two-day Roadrunner Invitational in Bakersfield, Calif., where they topped No. 12 San Diego State, No. 22 CSU-Bakersfield, and Cal State East Bay, but succumbed to No. 6 Arizona State.

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The Tigers kicked off the following week with a Tuesday match against the Sagehens. The team left Haldeman Pool with an 11-6 victory, while junior utility Haley Wan scored a career high of five goals to contribute a total of six points.

Junior 2-meter Chelsea Johnson and sophomore attack Eliza Britt also had standout, multi-goal performances. Sophomore utilities Charlotte Valentine and Lindsey Kelleher also contributed goals to bring the scoreboard to 11 for the Orange and Black.

Though Pomona-Pitzer was able to knock in six goals, senior goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson saved 15 other shots in the net.

The team then headed to the Lindgren Aquatics Center in Long Beach the next day to compete against the 49ers, ranked No. 16 in the nation.

Wan again proved to be a valuable player, earning CWPA Offensive Player of the Week honors and scoring four goals.

Chelsea Johnson and junior 2MD Sydney Cheong contributed the remaining three goals for a final tally of 7-2.

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Ashleigh Johnson, selected as CWPA Defensive Player of the Week, stopped 15 shots again for the Tigers. Freshman goalkeeper Kasey Bersh finished the game off for Johnson, saving one shot from entering the back of the net.

The Tigers faced the biggest challenge of the seven games they played in California in USC, ranked No. 1 in the nation. The Trojans defeated Princeton 12-3 at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center on Thursday.

The three goals came from Wan, who scored her sixth consecutive hat trick and scored a total of 24 goals on the West Coast trip, which included the Roadrunner Invitational and following three straight games. She now stands at 41 for the season and 133 for her collegiate career.

Ashleigh Johnson had 11 saves and now more than 200 for the season and 1000 for her career.

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The team will take on Saint Francis (10-12), Bucknell (11-11), and No. 7 Michigan (18-8) in Pennsylvania on the upcoming weekend.