Lisa De Rossi-Cooper, a former City Beach player, now coaching the Cal State East Bay women's water polo team, has been in the USA for some time.

Cal State won its first national championship defeating Cal Lutheran University 7-6 in four overtimes in the Collegiate III Women's Water Polo National Championship title match on May 4.

The match was a one-goal margin for most of regulation play with Cal Lutheran leading 3-2 at halftime. Cal State East Bay scored two unanswered goals to take a 4-3 advantage after three quarters. Regulation play ended in a 5-5 tie. Water Polo regulations have two overtime quarters before sudden death.

Cal Lutheran took a 6-5 lead after the first overtime. Cal State East Bay tied the match 6-6 in the second overtime period. As sudden death began, neither team scored in the third overtime. The Pioneers' Ashley Vieira scored the winning goal near the end of the fourth overtime giving Cal State East Bay its first national championship. The last national championship for the Cal State East Bay Intercollgiate Athletic Program was women's soccer in 1988.

Lisa De Rossi-Cooper was named Coach of the Year while goalie Elise Wilhelmsen was selected Most Valuable Player and first team all-tournament. Lauren Binner, who scored 12 goals in the championships, also earned first team all-tournament honours. Laura Demeneces was named second team all-tournament.

Coach De Rossi-Cooper was pleased with the entire team play. "We played our game on both offense and defense. Everyone contributed and they stayed focused and relaxed."

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