The women’s water polo club team at California State University, Fresno, captured third place and had two players on the All-Tournament Team at the 2006 Women’s National Collegiate Club championship last weekend at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill.

In a battle of Bulldogs, Fresno State started the tournament strong with an 8-2 victory over Yale in the Round of 16, then repeated with the same score against Utah. A highlight of the quarterfinal game was goaltender Jacque Ritchie’s rare goal, a 20-meter shot that found the Utes’ net at the other end of the 25-meter pool as the first quarter ended.

Fresno State stumbled, 12-6, against Michigan State, despite Megan Eldredge’s three-goal hat trick. The Spartans went on to the championship, defeating Florida 5-4.

The 2-1 record put the Bulldogs into Sunday’s third-place game against Miami (Ohio). Eldredge contributed another two goals and Beth Bartlett scored twice, but it was stout defense that won the day. Goalie Ritchie held the RedHawks to three goals as the Bulldogs took a 9-3 victory.

Eldredge, who scored seven goals, handed out 10 assists and had 6 steals, was named to the All-Tournament first team. Eldredge also won Player of the Game honors in each of Fresno State’s victories.

Bartlett, who netted five goals and had six assists, was selected for the second team.

The Fresno State women’s water polo team was runner-up to Cal Poly in the Pacific Coast Division regular season. Cal Poly, the championship tourney’s top seed, finished fifth.