The University of Toronto women's water polo team played a doubleheader on Wednesday in California and came away with its second split on the tour.
 
In the morning, the Blues squared off against Cal State Northridge (CSUN), losing 11-2 to the Matadors.
 
CSUN opened the first quarter by scoring two power play goals to lead 2-0 entering the second period.  
 
The Matadors made it three power play goals in a row early in the second quarter and followed that up with a penalty shot score as the Blues defence could not cope with the multiple drives that the Matadors threw their way.  A couple of even strength goals to end the period pulled CSUN out to a 6-0 half-time lead.
 
The Blues finally broke through in the third quarter with a power play goal from senior co-captain Kassie Fraser (Vancouver, B.C.) after a time out.  However, the Matadors responded with three unanswered goals to go up 9-1.
 
The teams traded goals in the middle of the fourth frame as sophomore Allie Vas (Yorba Linda, California) fired one in from the left wing.  CSUN closed out the scoring with three seconds remaining to secure an 11-2 victory.
 
In the evening, the Blues travelled to Allred pool at Chapman University to take on the Panthers.
 
The Blues came out on fire in the first quarter.  After losing the swim off to open the period, Toronto promptly stole the ball and freshman Lauren Dundee (Perth, Scotland) converted the ensuing counterattack.  Junior assistant captain Caitlyn Tiedje (Okotoks, Alberta) made it 2-0 on a pretty backhand shot out of the center forward spot.  The Panthers responded on the next possession to pull within one but freshman Kaitlyn Palmer (Ottawa) put the Blues back on top by two, scoring as a power play expired.  Sophomore Sarah Wentling (Mohnton, Pennsylvania) scored the team's second goal from center forward on a strong forehand turn and Palmer popped in her second of the quarter on a cross pool pass from sophomore Vas, putting Toronto up 5-1.
 
After the Blues won the swim off to start the second quarter, Palmer made it a hat trick as the Blues again scored on a power play that had just expired.  The Panthers got back on the board on a powerful skip shot from distance. A third Toronto goal just after a power play had expired, this one from sophomore Sara Sutherland (Regina), moved U of T out in front 7-2 as the teams headed into the second half of play.
 
Chapman won the third quarter 2-1, scoring their two goals around a Blues power play goal by Fraser.
 
Tiedje opened the final period with her second goal from center forward as she made a powerful forehand turn to elude her checker.  After giving up a goal, the Blues closed out the scoring with a pair of goals as Sutherland scored from the post on the power play and Wentling notched her second from center forward leaving the Blues as 11-5 victors.
 
The Blues power play came alive going four for eight and the defence was a perfect nine for nine on the penalty kill. 
 
Standout net minder and senior co-captain Rachael Jaffe (Irvine, California) had an outstanding six steals to thwart the Panthers attacks.
 
With the win, the Blues improved to 3-2 on the California competition tour.
 
Next up for the Blues is a date with the California Baptist University Lancers on Thursday evening (Feb 20).