Glendora, CA (Women’s Water Polo) -- For the third time since 2000, the Citrus College Women’s Water Polo team found themselves in the Championship game of the Western State Conference Tournament. The third time turned out to not be the charm however for the Lady Owls, as they fell to the number one seed Ventura 10-7.
Both teams kept pace with each other in the opening frame of Saturday afternoon’s championship match, with both teams scoring three goals in the first quarter. After that though, the Pirates grabbed control scoring the first three goals of the second quarter, with Citrus’ Jennifer Marshall finally stopping the bleeding with a goal with just 53 seconds left in the half.
Citrus would come out in the third quarter determined to pull even with Ventura, scoring two goals to open up the half, thanks to Brianna Di Carlo and Marshall, but the Pirates pulled away late in the third with three unanswered goals that gave them their three goal cushion in Saturday’s vital match-up.
For the afternoon, Citrus was led by Marshall who poured in three goals, and goalie Amelia Huss who recorded a game high 10 saves in a losing effort. With the loss, Citrus falls to 12-12 overall and 4-2 in WSC play, while Ventura climbs to 16-9 and 5-1 in conference play.
With the win, Ventura secures the WSC’s automatic playoff bid, leaving Citrus’ fate in the hands of others. The Lady Owls still have a strong chance to make the Southern California playoffs, and will find out their future tomorrow afternoon at the Southern California Coaches meetings. Stay tuned to the Citrus Athletics web-site for playoff information.
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