After being defeated by No. 1-ranked USC on March 3 at McDonald’s Swim Stadium, the 19th- ranked Cal State Northridge women’s water polo team won both of its matches at the Cal State Bakersfield Invitational March 5.

Sophomore 2 meter Christine Cruz posted three goals in the 14-5 loss against USC.

The Trojans started off the match with a 5-0 lead and then dramatically increased it, making it 10-1 at the end of the half.

In the second half, both teams scored four goals, but USC’s big lead proved to be too much to overcome for the Matadors.

Sophomore 2 meter Allison Brookes and senior 2 meter Heather van Hermet each scored one goal for CSUN. For USC, senior 2 meter Moriah Van Norman led the Trojans with four goals in the match while junior utility Brittany Hayes and junior utility Erika Figge both had two goals.

Freshman 2 meter Kami Craig, junior utility Jana Wenger, and senior 2 meter Anna also netted a goal for the Trojans.

USC improved its record to 13-0 overall and 3-0 in MPSF play.

Although the Matadors lost badly to the top team in the nation, CSUN was able to overcome that defeat by beating Chapman 9-3 and Claremont 14-5.

“We just came out strong,” explained head coach Molly Barnes. “We knew that we were the better team (than both Claremont and Chapman) and we just came out with confidence. Although we didn’t come out strong in the first game, we were able to do that in the second game.”

Against Chapman, the game was tied at one before the game broke open. The Matadors were able to score six unanswered goals.

Five Matadors scored the first five goals through the first two periods.

In the third period, van Hermet scored the first as well as the last goal. Brookes and freshman driver Jessica Coy contributed with a goal each to give the Matadors a 9-2 lead.

Van Hermet ended the match with three goals, while Brookes scored two. Cruz, senior driver Ashley Hunhoff, and junior driver Jennifer Mcdonnell also posted scores for the Matadors. Senior goalie Graziella Caredda made 16 saves in the victory.

In the match against Claremont, the Matadors led 2-1 through one period before outscoring Claremont 4-1 in the second quarter to take a 6-2 advantage.

In the third period, CSUN scored five goals, including three from Coy in 85 seconds. Brookes, van Hermet, and junior driver Lynzy Klein netted two goals against Claremont. Also adding scores were Cruz, Hunhoff, Macdonnell, junior driver Loren Myers and freshman utility Carolynn Cuzynski. Caredda made eight saves through three periods, while junior goalie Katy Erhardt posted two saves in the final quarter.

With the two victories, CSUN improved its record to 5-9 overall (0-4 in MPSF play).

“We’re trying to develop some consistency,” Barnes said. “We have a lot of potential and a lot of room for improvement. A couple of players have stepped up, but we need all of them to contribute in some way.”

Barnes added, “We’ve been faced with a lot of adversity this season, but right now it seems that we have what it takes to overcome it. We have a good shot against San Jose State, if we minimize our mistakes and come out confident and strong, we can take them.”

The Matadors resume MPSF action with three league matches next week. CSUN will host San Jose State at Matador Pool March 9 at 3 p.m. before traveling to Pacific on March 11 and Cal on March 12.

Charles Keeranan can be reached at sports_sundial@csun.edu.