Hard Fought
Glendora, CA -- The Citrus College Women's Water Polo program served as the co-host of the 19th Annual Mt. San Antonio College Classic Women's Water Polo Tournament. The Owls played four games in their home water between Friday and Saturday and came away with four hard fought victories against some stiff competition.
The weekend started off on Friday morning against Grossmont College (4-4). The Owls jumped on the Griffins early with a 4-2 first quarter. Grossmont would cut into the Citrus lead in the next quarter with a 3-2 second, before the two schools each scored once in the third, making it 7-6 headed into the last quarter. In the fourth, Citrus pulled away late, scoring three goals, while holding the Griffins to two in a 10-8 victory.
Freshman Jessica Carmody would scored three goals and hand out three assists in the win. Sophomore Mary Marie McCreary scored a team high four goals, while also drawing a pair of kick-outs.
In the second game, the Owls took on another tough Pacific Coast Athletic Conference school when they battled Palomar College (5-3) with a 10-0 win. The two schools were tied after each of the first two quarters, 1-1 after the first and 4-4 at halftime. The Owls were finally able to gain some separation in the third quarter going up 8-7, before finishing out the game in the fourth with each squad scoring twice.
In the win, Carmody led all Owl scorers with three goals and a team high four steals. Sophomore Danielle DeHerrera added three goals, two assists, and three steals, with freshman goalie Nicole Parsons coming up with seven blocks.
After a 2-0 first day, the Owls drew a familiar foe early Saturday morning when they played Saddleback College (6-4), one of only two teams to beat Citrus so far this year. The Owls fell behind early against the Gauchos trailing 2-1 after the first and 7-5 at halftime. In the third, the two teams traded a pair of goals each, as Saddleback went into the last eight up 9-7. The Owls turned on the defense in the fourth quarter, and Citrus got some timely goals, scoring one goal midway through and the other with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
In overtime, Citrus held the Gauchos scoreless in the first overtime period, while coming up with a goal of their own. The two schools traded scores in the second overtime period, as Citrus edged Saddleback 11-10. Carmody once again led all Citrus scorers with four strikes, while McCreary and DeHerrera each had three.
After the grueling first three contests, Citrus cruised in their final outing of the weekend with a 14-0 victory over El Camino College. 13 of Citrus' 14 scores would come in the first two quarters as the Owls routed the Warriors. Carmody scored three more goals, while DeHerrera freshman Gabriela Galbraith and sophomore Christina Tereszczuk all had two each.
With the four wins, Citrus improves to 8-2 on the season. The Owls have another big test this coming Wednesday when they host Ventura College in a key WSC matchup. The game is set for a 3:30 PM start in the Citrus College Aquatics Center.
