The University of Toronto women's water polo team went 2-1 at the Tina Finali Invitational hosted by Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California, completing an 11 match nine day competition tour of the golden state.
Competing against tough NCAA competition, the grueling schedule saw the Blues challenge two universities ranked in the NCAA Top 12 and four ranked in the Top 30. The Blues finished the tour with an overall record of 3-8.
BLUES 4 Azusa Pacific University 17
In the opening contest of the Tina Finali Invitational, Toronto failed to score in the opening quarter. Meanwhile, the Azusa Pacific Cougars took advantage and built a 3-0 lead heading into the second frame.
After the Cougars made it 4-0, the Blues answered back to get on the scoresheet. However, Azusa then opened up a 7-2 halftime lead.
A relentless press stifled the Blues attack, and the Cougars continued to add to their lead.
But, Toronto never gave up, tying their NCAA opponents 2-2 in the final quarter scoring.
BLUES 11 Whittier College 9
After just three hours of rest on the first day of the Tina Finali Invitational, the Blues were back in the water to face the Whittier College Poets.
Toronto opened the scoring on the power-play with a cross cage shot by third-year attacker Hannah Levin. The Poets then struck twice in succession to take their first lead, but fourth-year co-captain Julia DeCaire scored from the center leaving the teams tied 2-2 after the opening quarter.
In the second period, the Poets scored three unanswered goals and jump out in front 5-2 at the half.
Then the Blues caught fire to start the third quarter with goals by Levin and second-year attackers Sarah August and Devon Lynch to tie the game. However, the Poets got their only goal of the quarter to reclaim the lead heading into the final frame.
August with two counterattack goals and DeCaire after a timeout launched the Blues into a two goal lead. Again the Poets responded with two of their own to eveb the game 8-8 with less than three minutes to play. Courtesy of consecutive power-play goals from DeCaire and fellow fourth-year Vega Jones, Toronto restored its two goal advantage only to see Whittier get one back with a little over a minute left. Lynch then capitalized on another power-play with half a minute remaining to seal the Blues second win on the tour.
"It was great to see our team have a good second half," said Gross Jr. "Our players should draw a lot of confidence coming back from three goals down and scoring three consecutive power-play goals in critical moments of a fourth quarter."
BLUES 14 Occidental College 5
A morning tilt the next day against the Occidental College Tigers (Oxy) was the final game for the Blues on its annual competition tour of Southern California.
The Blues won the opening swim-off thanks to Levin's sprint. However, the team turned the ball over and Oxy raced down the pool to open the scoring. On the ensuing attack for Toronto, Jones drew a penalty shot which was converted by rookie Ava Stimson to tie the game. Jones then put the Blues ahead only to have the Tigers tie it on the power-play and then surge in front. Levin pulled the Blues even on a pass from DeCaire, who picked up her second assist of the quarter.
In the second period, Toronto clanged shots off the cross bar and posts four times before August scored on the counter-attack to put the Blues up 4-3. Levin with her second and Lynch on a drive extended the lead to 6-3 at the half.
August won the Blues third consecutive swim-off and fourth-year co-captain Alexandra Lee promptly drove the net, rolled outside with the ball and deposited it in the far corner and the Blues advantage increased to four goals. After Oxy got that one back on the power-play, August connected twice more and Toronto ended the third quarter ahead 9-4.
After initially losing the final swim-off, August kept going through and stole the pass back attempt and the Blues went to the attack first for the fourth time in the game. Rookie Liana Sheridan drove the net, drew an exclusion, got the pass and rifled a shot in the short side to push the Blues advantage to six goals. After the Tigers scored on a penalty shot, the Blues ran off four unanswered goals to close out the game and secure a 14-5 victory.
"It was really good for the team to end the competition tour with a pair of wins," stated Gross Jr. "Having nine different players score showed that there is some offensive depth. It is strange, but last year and this year the team put on its best performances in the 11th game of the road trip."
Levin and August paced the Blues with hat-tricks, while Jones popped in a pair of goals. DeCaire, Lee, Stimson, Sheridan, Lynch along with rookie Lillian Wheatley contributed singles. Truchla was solid in the cage.
This year established a new high water mark for the Blues playing against NCAA competition as they challenged a record 31 games against NCAA opponents. The previous high of 25 was set in 2017-18.
Last up is Seniors Day on Saturday at noon when the Blues will end their year hosting NCAA opponent Grove City College.
