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The Cerritos College women's water
polo team captured their first South Coast Conference
Tournament championship in school history after a
stunning 9-4 win over cross-town rival Long Beach City
on Saturday. The Falcons swept through Rio Hondo College
(18-0) and Chaffey College (10-8) on Friday to put them
in the championship game against the state #2-rated
Vikings. In their first meeting of the season, LB City
posted a 10-5 win against Cerritos, handing them one of
their two losses this season. With the three wins,
Cerritos is now 28-2 on the season and could be seeded
as high as #2 in the Southern California Regional
Playoffs, which get underway on Wednesday. It will be
determined who the Falcons play and at what time when
the selections are made on Sunday.
In the championship game against the
Vikings, Cerritos was able to shut out LBCC in the
second and third quarters, turning a 2-1 first quarter
lead into a 7-1 advantage heading into the fourth
quarter. Freshman
Daisy
Carrillo (Montebello
HS) led the team with three goals, while the
duo of freshman
Ashley Badali
(Gahr HS)
and freshman
Jeannette Diaz
(Bell Gardens HS),
the team's leading goal scorer, each chipped in with
two. Sophomore goalkeeper
Barbie Diaz
(Bell Gardens HS)
was phenomenal in goal, recording 18 saves in helping
secure the biggest win the school history. It also
marked the first time the team had ever defeated the
Vikings.
The opening round shutout win over
the Roadrunners was the team's third shutout of the
season, as 11 different players scored for the Falcons.
Sophomore
Roxy Cariaga
(Cerritos HS) led the team with four goals, while Badali
and
Kimberly Diaz
(Bell Gardens HS)
each added three goals. Sophomore
Hanna Anzai
(Cerritos HS)
anchored the defense with four steals, while Barbie Diaz
and freshman
Sarah Kenney
(La Habra HS)
combined to make five saves.
Looking to build on an 18-15 win over
Chaffey from a week ago, the Falcons looked to their
defense to come up with big plays when the game was on
the line. Freshman
Grace
Quintana (Montebello
HS) made five crucial steals and also led
the team with three goals, while Badali, Carrillo and
Jeannette Diaz each scored twice. Kenney was also up to
the task in the win, turning away eight shots and also
made a steal. |
