STOCKTON — Rachel Krieger led the eighth-seeded Pacific women’s water polo team into the NCAA quarterfinals with a four-goal performance in an opening-round playoff match as the Tigers defeated No. 25 Pomona-Pitzer 11-5 Saturday at Chris Kjeldsen Pool. The win was the program’s first NCAA win in the Tigers’ first appearance.
Pacific’s defense was a strength throughout, as the Tigers outshot SCIAC champion 33-19. Pacific’s offense took a quarter to get going as the game was tied 1-1 late in the first quarter until Mariana Duarte’s shot from six meters out when off the hands of the Sagehens’ keeper Ahsha Earwood and trickled over the line for a 2-1 lead after one.