Community college women’s water polo: Pirates rally for win

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Even after back-to-back victories over Golden West

College, the defending state women’s water polo champion, the Orange

Coast Pirates are still hesitating that they have truly arrived.

Yet, with an 8-5 Orange Empire Conference victory over Golden West,

the Pirates have definitely lived up to their billing.

OCC, the top-ranked team in the state, went back and forth with the

No. 2 Rustlers but surged ahead and completed a two-game sweep over their

rivals Wednesday at OCC’s pool.

The Pirates (5-0, 1-0 in the OEC) also defeated Golden West, 10-2, in

the finals of the Saddleback Tournament Sunday. But, OCC wants to wait

until the end of the season to make its real statement.

“No team really has an advantage in this game,� OCC Coach Don Watson

said of the Pirates-Rustlers rivalry. “These games have always been hard

fought and they will continue to be tough. It’s going to be a battle

every time we play.�

There was a definite battle Wednesday as the teams drew even, 4-4 with

one minute remaining in the third period. But, sophomore Devon Wright

fired back with one of her three goals as she broke free from a defender

three meters from the goal and threw one into the cage with 41 seconds

left in the third.

Then, in the fourth quarter, Wright scored another goal to increase

the lead.

OCC sophomore Christine McDonald came up with a steal and followed

that with an aggressive counterattack when she finished a breakaway with

a goal for a 7-4 lead, with 4:38 remaining.

However, the Rustlers (3-2, 0-1) answered quickly with a goal of their

own just 21 seconds later.

But, the Pirates’ defense retaliated as Neisha Hoagland’s steal set up

the scoring combination of Erica Nicholson, with the assist, to Wright,

who completed the hat trick.

“This was just a relief,� Wright said of the victory as OCC lost to

Golden West six straight times last year. “Hopefully, we can just keep it

up with our winning because we’ll end up playing (Golden West) maybe five

more times this season.�

Said Hoagland, “Our team just gets along real well and that’s just

what makes us better.�

Sophomore Tia Montalvo put the Pirates on the scoreboard, as OCC was

successful on the six-on-five. The goal tied the game at one. Coast went

down, 2-1, in the second, but the Pirates answered the deficit as

freshman Nicole Sonnenfeld scored after a counterattack.

The Rustlers surged ahead again, just before halftime. And the Pirates

continued the seesaw battle when Sonnenfeld scored again, this time from

a six-on-five. Hoagland scored on a six-on-five, as she finished off a

pass from Montalvo, giving the Pirates the lead for good.

Freshman Heather Deyden, a Newport Harbor High product, recorded four

saves for the Pirates.

Coast returns to action Wednesday at Saddleback at 3 p.m.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S WATER POLO

Orange Coast 8, Golden West 5

Golden West 1 2 1 1 - 5

Orange Coast 1 1 3 3 - 8

GW - Freemon, Stone, Avery, Killoran, Bounds.

OCC - Wright 3, Sonnenfeld 2, Montalvo, Hoagland, McDonald.

Saves - Sunderman (GW), 5; Deyden (OCC) 4.