WALNUT, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Women's Water Polo team continued their undefeated start to the season this weekend, winning all three matches at the 2023 Mountie Classic at Mt. San Antonio College.
"We had some moments of brilliance and moments of needed improvement, but all in all, it was a great outing for our team," head coach Chuckie Roth said. "We continue to get better and learn new things."
The first match of the day against Santa Monica was postponed, so Saddleback was the Vaqueros' only opponent of the day.
SBCC held a steady lead throughout the match, finishing the first, second, and third quarters at 4-3, 7-4, and 8-6, respectively.
As they have shown before, though, the Vaqueros just know how to grind out results. In the first five minutes of the final quarter, 5 different SBCC goalscorers scored to increase the lead to 13-6. A consolation goal led to a final score of 13-7.
With a balanced offensive approach, Claire Daland, Esther Sullivan, Addie Lane, Caroline Oates, and Lily Carrick all notched 2 goals.
Carrick also tallied 4 steals and 3 exclusions drawn, while Daland had 3 steals, 2 exclusions drawn, and 3 blocks. Addie Lane and Gabi Turnbull had 3 steals, as well, for a Vaqueros defense who totaled 21.
Day two started with a match against Sierra. The Vaqueros showed their class, allowing just 1 goal in each of the first three quarters and accumulating a 10-3 lead by the start of the fourth quarter. The final score was 11-6, and another SBCC win.
This time, Cate Daland led the team with 3 goals, while Sofia Paez and Caroline Oates both scored 2. Paez also had 2 exclusions drawn; Natalie Mancinelli led the team with 3 steals and Gabrielle Muehring had 2.
In the final match of the weekend, the Vaqueros came out swinging against San Joaquin Delta, ending the first quarter with a 6-0 lead and looking like they would cruise to another sweep.
That was not the case, however, as Delta outscored the Vaqueros 5-1 in the second quarter—the score at halftime was 7-5 SBCC.
The anxiety was incredibly short-lived, though. The Vaqueros defense was phenomenal after the break, only allowing 1 goal in the second half.
6 different SBCC goalscorers scored 6 goals after halftime, including Tayten Neiderhiser with her first of the season. The final score was 13-6.
Overall, Claire Daland scored 4 goals in the match, and Natalie Mancinelli netted 2. Daland, Gabrielle Muehring, and Gabi Turnbull each had 3 steals, while Addie Lane and Erin Otsuki had 2.
"Cate Daland had a phenomenal day today against Sierra and Delta [with 4 goals]," Roth said. "And Natalie Mancinelli had 3 goals on the day with some really solid minutes played.
"Kate Densmore had another superb weekend in the goal with over 22 saves on the weekend," Roth concluded.
Densmore improved her record to 11-0—along with SBCC's record—as the sole Vaqueros goalie.
#1 ranked SBCC will play next at the 24th Mechanic's Bank Invitational next weekend at Cuesta.
