VENTURA, CA – The SBCC women's water polo team won its first three games at the Ventura Tournament, defeating Saddleback 15-7, San Joaquin Delta 13-6, and Golden West 15-9. In their final game of the weekend, the Vaqueros (17-4) were defeated by Fullerton 9-7.
SBCC 15, Saddleback 7
Goalscorers: Olson (3), Mancinelli (2), Daland (2), Muehring (2), Straley (2), Prado, Lopez, Gavia, Hughes
Saves: Donleavy (6), Mckay (5)
Jenna Olson got the Vaqueros started against Saddleback with a goal on their first possession, and they never looked back. Olson would go on to a team-high three goals.
SBCC jumped out to a 5-1 lead, went up 10-4 at halftime and led by as many as 10 goals in the final minutes.
SBCC 13, San Joaquin Delta 6
Goalscorers: Olson (4), Daland (3), Tal (2), Mancinelli, Muehring, Gavia, Straley
Saves: Donleavy (6), Mckay (3)
Olson continued her dominant stretch with her sixth game of three or more goals in a 13-6 win over Delta to close out Friday's competition. She scored the first two goals for either side and went on to finish with four goals for the third time this season. Claire Daland was second on the team with three.
Goalkeeper Ava Donleavy got the start and went for six saves for the second straight game, also adding three steals. Olson had a team-high three assists, while Eden Tal went for two goals, two steals and four drawn exclusions.
SBCC 15, Golden West 9
Goalscorers: Mancinelli (3), Tal (3), Daland (2), Olson (2), Turnbull (2), Muehring, Lopez, Straley
Saves: Mckay (7), Donleavy (5)
For the second time this season, the Vaqueros would score 15 goals in a win over Golden West. Natalie Mancinelli and Eden Tal both led the way with three goals, while Claire Daland, Jenna Olson and Gabi Turnbull each scored twice.
SBCC trailed 3-2 through the first period and 6-5 at the half, but the Vaquero defense would dominate the second half. Goalkeeper Ava Donleavy had five saves as the Vaqueros outscored Golden West 10-3 over the final 16 minutes. Daland finished with game-highs of five steals and three exclusions drawn.
Fullerton 9, SBCC 7
Goalscorers: Daland (3), Olson, Prado, Muehring, Straley
Saves: Donleavy (8), Mckay (2)
In the final game of the weekend, SBCC took on Fullerton looking to avenge an 11-8 late September loss. Unfortunately for the Vaqueros, they would be held to a season-low seven goals as their nine-game win streak was snapped.
Daland scored three more goals to bring her weekend total to 10, tying Olson for the most goals on the team at the tournament.
SBCC looked to be in command early on, as Daland's two first quarter goals put the Vaqueros up 4-0 through one. However, the second quarter would go the opposite way, as Fullerton scored five unanswered to head into halftime with the lead.
Olson tied the game at 7-7 early in the fourth, but the last two goals of the day would go Fullerton's way.
NEXT UP
The Vaqueros will have some time off before playing in the 24th annual Battle at the Beach from Fri-Sat, Oct. 21-22 at Long Beach City College. They will open the weekend on Friday at 10:20 a.m. against Palomar.
