Women’s Water Polo: Banner Year Leads to Plethora of Awards for Citrus
Glendora, CA - After a banner year in which the Citrus College Women's Water Polo soared to new heights and broke numerous program records, the Owls raked in a plethora of post-season awards. Head Coach Jennifer Spalding was named the Western State Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in her four years at Citrus. Two Owls would go on to be named All-America, with one being named 1st team All-State, and two more All-SoCal. All said and done, a total of nine Owls earned All-WSC honors.
Spalding earned Coach of the Year honors for the second time in her fourth season at the helm of the Owls. She guided them to a 28-9 overall mark, 7-2 record in WSC play, and 4th place finish at the 2019 CCCAA Southern California Regionals. Additionally the Citrus offense had the second most goals in the State (379), while their defense led the entire CCCAA in steals (489).
The two All-America nods would go to freshman Rachel Sherman and freshman Lauren Olivier. Sherman would be named a 1st team All-State and All-WSC selection after scoring a program record 129 goals this past season. Her 129 goals ranked 2nd in the entire State, while her 140 steals (also a program record), was the top mark in the State. Olivier, an All-SoCal and 1st team All-WSC choice, scored 33 goals on the season and handed out 63 assists (a program record) and the best mark in the CCCAA. Olivier also had 74 steals too her name.
Earning 1st team All-SoCal and All-WSC honors was sophomore Cameron Schween. Schween finished second on the team with 60 goals, adding 30 assists, and a team best 40 exclusions drawn. Rounding out the 1st team All-WSC choices was freshman Hannah Long. Long scored 49 goals, had 37 assists, 34 steals, and 26 exclusions drawn. On the 2nd team All-WSC list were freshman Breanna Bailey and freshman Kate Carlyle. Bailey scored 35 times with 39 assists, 41 steals, and 11 exclusions drawn. Carlyle appeared in 15 games in goal for Citrus, notching 93 saves and posting a 52.8% save percentage.
Finishing out the awards were All-WSC Honorable Mention honorees in sophomores Keylee Burke, Angelica Espinoza, and Samantha Godinho. Burke scored 43 times, with 32 assists and 37 steals in her sophomore campaign, while Espinoza added 10 goals, 16 assists, and 12 exclusions drawn. Godinho brought home the historic campaign by contributing 11 goals, 13 assists, 19 steals, and an even 10 exclusions drawn.