In recent years, CSUN Water Polo has relied on a talented core to compete against some of the best teams in the country. From Lindsy Duncan (2011-14) to Jenny Jamison (2011-14) to Marisa Young (2012-15), Kelcie Ferreira (2012-15) and Kelcy Barott (2014-15), the Matadors have possessed dynamic and versatile players in the pool year in and year out that have helped CSUN garner a national ranking. Over the past two seasons, the Matadors have been led offensively specifically by talented upperclassmen. The team’s top five leading scorers were either juniors or seniors in 2014 and last season four of the top five scorers were seniors. This season the Matadors have a group of fresh faces that are leading the Matadors in a host of offensive categories.

Sophomores Madeleine Sanchez, Amy Yule, Shannon Hovanesian, Katelyn Fairchild and Paula Abellan Garcia along with goalkeeper Niki Van Vugt and Carly Wickman are all in their second seasons with CSUN after helping lead the Matadors to a 15-11 record in 2015. Playing alongside an extraordinary senior class last season, the group have utilized the experience learned as freshmen and are off to a fast start in the pool in 2016.

As a team, the Matadors have scored 98 total goals on the season led by their attacker Sanchez who has posted 29 tallies. Originally from Murrieta, CA, Sanchez has already eclipsed her entire goal output from last season as she scored 28 times as a freshman.

“I learned a lot last year in and out of the pool with the help of the senior group,” said Sanchez. “I played alongside some great older players who really took me under their wings and I tried to be as much of a sponge I could be as a freshman.”

“Maddie is doing a great job of accepting a new role in the flow of the offense in terms of being a player who can create space and shots,” said head coach Marty Matthies. “She has been our leading scorer and she’s shooting at a high efficiency. The second part is the most important part. We want that good shooting percentage and for her to be able to facilitate just as much as she’s taking a shot.”

After a strong freshman campaign where she led the team with 29 assists, she has picked up right where she left off. Sanchez has struck the net in 10 of 11 matches this season and she is shooting a team-best 53.7 percent to go along with 16 steals and 10 assists. She also made CSUN history this season, tying the school’s all-time mark for goals in a game with seven against Pomona-Pitzer on Jan. 30.

“The game was a great team performance,” said Sanchez about tying the all-time CSUN record. “I did not even realize I tied the record until Marty told me after the game. It’s an honor to be in the school’s record books with some of the past great players for this program.”

Another powerful offensive force in the lineup, Yule played behind Young, the second all-time leading scorer in CSUN history last season. 2016 has granted her the opportunity to carve out a name of her own.

“Watching and playing with Marisa Young has definitely taught me a lot,” said Yule. “She was always there to answer any of my questions and help me through a movement. With all of her help it made me realize the amount of effort it will take to be a great water polo player.”

Originally hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan, Yule played as a backup in 2015 and scored 13 goals while appearing in all 26 matches. This season, she has already eclipsed last year’s total as a starting center. Yule is second on the team with 16 goals on 33 attempts this season.

“Amy has made some huge strides from last year,” added Matthies. “She played in Marisa Young’s shadow a little bit. This year, she knows she’s the one and she’s playing very effectively in the center position right now. She’s drawing a lot of ejections and doing a great job in terms of opening up the offense.”

“I am honored to play such a big role on the team this year, especially as a sophomore,” added Yule. “The responsibility that accompanies that role adds a bit more pressure but with everyone’s support I don’t feel discouraged by it.”

Native of La Crescenta, CA, Hovanesian turned heads in 2015 with her all around play. One of two freshmen on the team to reach double-digits in goals (10), she also totaled 14 steals, eight assists and three field blocks. This season, Hovanesian is tied for the team-lead in assists with 15 and she’s second in steals with 20 to go along with eight goals.

“She can play with her back to the cage and she can be a threat on the perimeter,” said Matthies about Hovanesian. “I think one of the most understated things about Shannon is what she brings to the team defensively. She’s been playing excellent one-on-one defense.”

In addition to her role as a defensive and offensive threat, Hovanesian has also taken on the responsibility of being a team captain alongside seniors Taitum Herrington, Taryn Kamimoto, and junior McKenzie Pollei.

“I’ve enjoyed the new experience that my role as captain has presented me with,” said Hovanesian. “I feel grateful for having the opportunity to play with last year’s seniors. The most important value I learned from them was the value of a strong teammate bond and I hope I can do my part and instill the same values.”

Another standout on the team that has filled up the stat sheet, Fairchild who has already achieved career highs in goals (9), assists (15) and steals (26). The native of Fresno, CA, leads the team in steals and is tied for the team-lead in assists.

“Katelyn has probably made the most improvement from last year,” said Matthies. “Being a freshman last year hit her hard and you could tell in the flow of the offense she wasn’t always confident but now she’s so much more confident. She’s playing unbelievable defense. On top of that, she’s the fastest player on the team and really uses that to her advantage. She’s the heart and soul of the defense we want to play.”

“This year is very different from my role last year,” said Fairchild. “Last year, I mostly played as a backup but this season I am a part of the starting group, which puts more pressure on me to play well for a longer period of time. I have taken on a leadership role because of the example I set in and out of the water. I am constantly giving over 100 percent at all times.”

Another player on the team has shown improvement in the eyes of Matthies, Abellan Garcia. A center/utility player from Barcelona, Spain, Abellan Garcia has scored eight goals on the season and posted eight steals in addition to a pair of field blocks.

“From last year to this year, Paula made some really big strides, and more importantly, from the beginning of this year to now she’s made even bigger strides,” said Matthies. “It’s been difficult for her coming from Spain and to play a completely different style of water polo, especially being that center/utility player. She’s embraced the American style of playing and combining that with her international flair has made her a dynamic threat.”

“One of my personal goals for this season is to be an important center for this team,” said Abellan Garcia. “Also, last year I didn’t play as a center, so this year everything has been new for me.”

Adapting to a change in position is one of the many things Abellan Garcia has had to do since joining CSUN.

“When I came here I knew the change wasn’t going to be easy,” added Abellan Garcia. “Everything was different such as the culture, language, food and even the number of positions in water polo. I don’t think I am fully used to everything yet, but being with a team like mine helps a lot. I know that every year is going to get easier being far away from home. Even though I miss [my family] so much, I also have a huge amazing family here.”

In front of the cage, the Matadors’ Van Vugt has also been impressive in her role as a starting goalkeeper. A Toronto, Ontario native, Van Vugt has saved 75 attempts in 11 matches while saving 7.77 per game in over 309:00 in net.

Backing up Kiernan Davis, the second all-time leader in saves at CSUN, Van Vugt appeared in five games and saved 15 shots in limited action in 2015. This season, she has recorded eight or more saves five times already including posting a career-high nine saves on three occasions.

The seventh sophomore on the team, Wickman has appeared in seven matches and has posted three assists and a steal while serving as a utility player on the team. Hailing from Waterford, CA, Wickman appeared in 14 matches last season and amassed five assists.

“Overall we have a really young team this year,” said head coach Marty Matthies. “Their improvement from last year to now has been tremendous and that has really helped the team grow a lot. I couldn’t ask for a better foundation to build upon than what we have right now.”