CLU Sports

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - From the police escort on Friday's venture to the Eppley Recreation Center Natatorium to officially appearing in the NCAA Championship tournament, the Regals added plenty of firsts to an already historic season. The entire Regals team can remember that for a brief period of time the scoreboard read: CLU 1, USC 0.

After a couple of Trojan shots rattled the CLU goalposts and an Ashley Bentz steal kept USC scoreless, Cal Lutheran found itself in an early battle with the No. 1 team in Division I.

On the team's third possession Meredith Butte gained inside water from center cage converting the opportunity into the first CLU lead at the NCAA tournament and against the No. 1 team in collegiate water polo.

"That goal was a total team effort," said Butte about the go-ahead goal. "Without that pass... without that screen... without this team it would have never happened."

CLU Head Coach Craig Rond wanted the moment to last.

"It was exciting. I thought about calling timeout to savor the moment," said Rond as he grinned with a kidding smile.

Cal Lutheran and Southern Cal were in a scoreless tie when Butte scored with 5:33 left in the opening quarter. The CLU faithful along with a stunned crowd at the Eppley Center witnessed the ensuing 61 seconds of USC playing from behind.

In total the Regals were tied or held an advantage for exactly four minutes--not quite the "15 minutes of fame" but not bad considering a team that is only six seasons young.

"To think where we have come and to do it in six years... it's great," said Butte. "To win Collegiate III, then SCIAC... it's an honor to be a part of this tradition."

The Trojans, who have lost only one game this season (in sudden death overtime to No. 2 Stanford) were led by freshman Nadia Dan's four goals, including a natural hat trick in the final quarter.

Trailing by double figures early in the second half, CLU freshman Kelsey Bergemann netted the second Regals goal of the game.

"Our freshman gained valuable experience," said Rond. "A lot of our young players saw time and battled with them."

"We were very focused and played disciplined defense. Our younger players did well," said USC Head Coach Jovan Vavic after the team's opening round win.

"(Cal Lutheran) played very hard throughout the game," commented Vavic. "(Cal Lutheran) ran plays we'd never seen before." After today's performance the best of the best have experienced or seen CLU water polo.

The Trojans will take on Hawaii in one of two Saturday semifinal contests. The Rainbow Wahine's defeated Loyola Marymount 11-7 in the final Friday match-up.

Cal Lutheran (19-13) will face LMU (25-8) tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. EST.

Tournament Central: 2009 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championships