Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The CUI Golden Eagles water polo team started their 2023 season in Santa Barbara at the UCSB Winter Invite. The Green and Gold competed in a double header against UC Merced and No. 19 UC Santa Barbara.
 
GAME 1: CUI 24, UC Merced 2
The first game brought a lot of scoring opportunities for the Golden Eagles. Senior Kim Reidel had the first goal of the season within the first minute of the game. Reidel and fifth year Madison Ravelo secured five goals apiece. Junior Ta'iuta Uiagalelei scored three times. Junior Cecilia Smith, Seniors' Nicole Tormey, and Emily Tucker all put two on the board. Freshman Jericho Callender, Junior Tamsyn Evezard, Junior Andie Perreira, Josie Miller, Janie Hobbs, and Kat Cheren all contributed singles to the final score. At the end of the game, CUI had 12 Golden Eagles on the score sheet.
 
GAME 2: CUI 5, UCSB 15
After facing the UC Merced Bobcats, CUI fought hard in their match against UCSB which ended with a well-earned win for the Gauchos. Ravelo, who is the first member of women's water polo team to be named ACWPC First Team All-American twice, put three goals up on the board. Paige Henson secured a goal in the last half of the third quarter.
 
Allyson Corbett and Nicole Tormey contributed one assist each. Kim Reidel beat the clock and scored one final goal for Concordia.  
 
Tatiana Cava had nine saves for CUI.
 
"We have made some significant improvements since the fall," said CUI head coach Casey Greenawalt, who earned his first victory as the new leader of the program. "We are excited to have played such a solid team this early in the season to help prepare us for future games. Girls had solid minutes of team polo that we can build upon for our next set of challenges."
 
The Golden Eagles will continue competing next at the UCSD Triton Tournament in La Jolla on Friday Feb. 3 with game times to be determined.
 
To see the full CUI women's water polo schedule click HERE.