Posted: Nov 10, 2013

Women’s Water Polo Closes Out Year With Strong Performance at WSC Championships

Sophomore Candelaria Baca finished out the season with eight goals for the Owls at the WSC Championships. Photo By: Robert Lopez

Santa Monica, CA -- The Citrus College Women's Water Polo closed out their 2013 season this past weekend at the 2013 Western State Conference Championships at Santa Monica College. The Owls opened up the weekend with an upset of Cuesta College before falling a close semi-final and consolation round games to Los Angeles Pierce College and Ventura College respectively.

The weekend started Friday morning when the 5th seeded Owls took on 4th seed Cougars from Cuesta. The first quarter started off evenly matched as both two slotted a pair of scores. Citrus exploded for four goals in the second quarter though, while holding Cuesta to just two. Citrus extended their lead by another goal in the third outscoring the Cougars 3-2 to go up 9-6. It was more than enough as Citrus outscored their opponent again in the fourth to win 11-7.

In the win, Citrus was led by sophomore Kaycie Zinkosky who scored a season high four goals. Sophomore Candelaria Baca scored three times and added four assists, while freshman goalie Rose Takeuchi stopped 12 shots.

Late on Friday, Citrus had to take on the #1 seed in the tournament Los Angeles Pierce College. The Owls kept pace with the Brahmas through the first quarter, tying them 2-2. Pierce began to pull away in the second going up 6-4 into the break. The Owls did their best to keep pace in the third, but they were shutout in the third quarter and held to just a single goal in the fourth as they fell 11-5.

Baca scored twice in the loss, as did sophomore Kendra New. Freshman Katherine Cuevas added the Owls other goal, while Takeuchi had 18 saves in a losing effort.

The loss dropped Citrus into the consolation round where they took on Ventura College, the #3 overall seed. The game was close much like their first meeting earlier in the year. Citrus took a 2-1 lead after the first, but saw that lead evaporate in the second as Ventura went up 6-2 at the half. Citrus was held scoreless again in the third, while the Pirates extended their lead to six, but the Owls weren't done yet. Citrus put together a furious rally in the fourth scoring five goals and holding Ventura to two, but unfortunately it was too little too late as they fell 7-9.

In the loss, Baca paced Citrus with three goals and an assist. New added a pair of scores, and Takeuchi stopped five shots and added a pair of steals.

Citrus closes out the season 13-17, and with a fourth place finish in WSC play.