Sports Edior

In a disappointing loss to San José State 14-7, it was the last time that three CSU Bakersfield seniors would represent the CSUB water polo team at the Hillman Aquatics Complex on Saturday.

CSUB senior goalkeeper Brittany Tyra, senior Sonia Stewart and senior Niki De Leon were all honored before the game as it would be their last at home.

“We had some good looks that we should’ve converted and we didn’t,” said CSUB head coach Jason Gall. “San José, they’re a good team. I just think we match up better than the score indicates. We just didn’t really take care of our opportunities.”

The Roadrunners (13-18, 0-5 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) got within one point in the third period after De Leon scored to make the score 6-5.

“It was really disappointing,” said De Leon. “We thought we were going to come out and do well. We gave up a couple of goals, came back and thought we were in it. Then after halftime just let it slip away.”

San José senior Rae Lekness was a problem for the Roadrunners as she netted four goals in the game to put her in second place in the MPSF for career goals with 288.

Tyra made some arm stretching saves, tallying 10 total in the game, but the Roadrunners’ lack of offensive scoring kept them from competing after halftime.

“It was really exciting going into the game,” said Tyra. “I mean, I thought we could beat them.”

CSUB sophomore Jada Helberg led the Roadrunners in scoring putting two in the back of the net.

The Spartans poured it on late in the game scoring five goals on the Roadrunners in the last period.

Gall gave his thoughts on the seniors playing for the program and said, “They’ve really dedicated a lot. Being at practice, the community service they do, keeping up with their grades, and other things it means to be a student athlete. They have done a really good job of representing the athletic department and university.”

The Roadrunners will play their final regular season game at UC Berkeley on Saturday at 1 p.m.