The Varsity Blues women's water polo team lost two games against schools ranked in the NCAA Top 25 before winning the first game of their 13-game California competition tour.
 
No. 23 CAL BAPTIST  11,   BLUES  2
 
The Blues traveled to Riverside on Friday for an afternoon contest against the Lancers but could not muster any offence throughout the game. 
 
The Lancers pressed hard all over the pool and forced several turnovers that turned into goals on the counter-attack. Cal Baptist also converted several power plays as the Blues showed no energy on defence and were caught flatfooted as Lancer shooters marched toward the goal.
 
Sophomore Caitlyn Tiedje (Calgary) and freshman Sarah Wentling (Mohnton, Pennsylvania) managed the only goals for the Blues.
 
 
No. 25 AZUSA PACIFIC  13,   BLUES  5
 
On Saturday morning the Blues traveled to Glendora to take on the 25th ranked Azusa Pacific Cougars.
 
The Blues again came out flat and dug themselves a 4-1 first quarter hole.  However, the team then found its legs and rebounded over the next quarters to play the Cougars almost even losing the periods by a total of 4-3.  The 8-4 score at the end of the third quarter was a good result.  However, knowing that his team would not have the energy to mount a full comeback,
head coach George Gross, Jr. elected to rest several starters for the second game of the day against Chapman at 4pm.
 
The Blues did connect on their first two power play opportunities thanks to excellent shooting from junior Rhianna Wood (Calgary).
 
Wentling, Tiedje and freshman Allie Vas (Yorba Linda, California) added the other markers.  Junior goalie Rachael Jaffe (Irvine,California) had a very strong game in the cage with several steals and saves on pointblank opportunities.
 
BLUES  9,   CHAPMAN  7
 
The Blues left Glendora and traveled to Orange to face Division 3 opponent Chapman University Panthers just four hours after finishing the game against Azusa.
 
Chapman opened the scoring and then the teams traded pairs of goals to leave the Panthers up 3-2 at the end of the opening quarter.
The Blues reversed that in the second period to tie things up 5-5 at the half.  U of T then scored the only two goals of the third frame to carry a 7-5 lead into the final quarter. 
 
The Blues widened the gap to 8-5 and had a chance to put the game away on a power play but missed and the Panthers countered and scored on the play.  Chapman scored a second time within a minute to pull within one and the home pool crowd was cheering their team on tie the game.  
 
However, the Blues responded with two defensive stops and then scored into the empty net after the Panthers sent there goalie up the pool to try and steal the ball for one last chance in the dying seconds.
 
Freshman Katie Smith (Okotoks, Alberta) and Vas notched hat tricks to lead the way for the Blues.  Tiedje added a pair of goals and Wood deposited the empty net marker to round out the scoring.
 
Jaffe had another excellent game posting 10 saves and four steals to stymie the Panthers.
 
Next up for the Blues is a doubleheader at the Bulldog Invitational at Redlands University where they will play #27 Cal State East Bay and the Division 3 host Bulldogs.