Owls Offense Betrays Them in Loss to Cuesta

Glendora, CA - After averaging well over 10 goals a game throughout their previous 18 contests, the Citrus College Women's Water Polo team had their offense betray them on Tuesday afternoon when they hosted Cuesta College in Western State Conference action. Citrus managed just three goals, was 3 of 29 on shot attempts, and was just 1 of 11 on 6-on-5 opportunities in a 5-3 loss. 

 The game figured to be a slugfest from the start, and it was Cuesta who drew first blood with a score with 4:55 to into the first. The Owls wouldn't be able to respond until there was 1:03 left when freshman Hunter Olivier scored off an assist by freshman Chloe Barrocas to tie it up at 1-1. In the second, Citrus would keep the Cougars off the scoreboard and would take a slim 2-1 lead when freshman Alyssa Gonzalez scored an unassisted goal with 4:55 left in the first half. 

With their lead holding by a thread, the Owls had a rough third quarter, that saw the Cougars come out and blitz the Owls taking 10 total shots to Citrus' 6, and outscoring the Owls 4-1. The only Owls goal came with 1:58 to go when Olivier scored an unassisted goal to briefly tie the game up 3-3. The Cougars scored two more goals in the final 100 seconds of the quarter to take that 5-3 advantage.

The Owls would try to make a run in the fourth, firing off eight shots to Cuesta's one, but all found the outstretched arms of the Cougars goalie as Citrus was held goal less for the final nearly 10 minutes of the match in the two goal loss. 

Olivier would lead the Owl effort on the day, with two of the three goals, to go along with three steals, and three exclusions drawn. Sophomore goalie Delany Moller put further a strong effort with 11 saves and a pair of steals. 

With the loss, Citrus drops to 11-8 overall and just 1-3 in WSC play. The Owls will have to rally quickly as they travel to Allan Hancock College for a showdown with the Bulldogs at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center at 3:00 PM.