Hornets Punch Ticket to Second Straight State Championship Game
Huntington Beach, CA - The Fullerton College (31-3) Women’s Water Polo team punched their second straight ticket to the California COmmunity College Athletic Association Women’s Water Polo State Championship game on Friday afternoon with a 8-3 win over NorCal #2 Sierra College (20-8).
Team Stats
Fullerton
Sierra
Huntington Beach, CA - The Fullerton College (31-3) Women's Water Polo team punched their second straight ticket to the California COmmunity College Athletic Association Women's Water Polo State Championship game on Friday afternoon with a 8-3 win over NorCal #2 Sierra College (20-8).
The Hornets got off to a slow start on the afternoon as they were held scoreless for the first nearly 10 minutes of the game. Sierra would take advantage, using a pair of goals from Angie Calzada to jump out to a 2-0 lead just past the midway mark in the second quarter. Fullerton finally began to turn things around in the final three minutes of the half when they used a small 3-0 run with a goal by Abigail Nunez and two Bryanna Santis scores to jump in front of the Wolverines 3-2 at the break.
In the second half, Fullerton pushed their lead to two goals after a score by Charley Jackson on a 6-on-5 opportunity. Sierra answered a few possessions later when Calzada found the back of the net once again to make it 3-4 with 5:10 left in the third quarter. After the two teams traded unfulfilling possessions it would be the Hornet's Kelly Doherty who would give Fullerton a two goal lead again with a score with 4:14 to go, a lead that would hold through the end of the third.
Over the final eight minutes of action it was all Fullerton, and on a smaller note all Doherty as she scored two more goals to put the Hornets in front 7-3. Diana Leivas would score the final goal of the day for either team, but did so on a pass from Doherty to reach the final score of 8-3.
Doherty matched Calzada for a game high three goals on the afternoon. For Fullerton, Alexandra Lopez did everything but score five exclusions drawn, a pair of steals and an assist. Fullerton goalie Tatiana Cava had 13 saves in the win. Aside from Calzada, Sierra's Kate Baltzer had four steals, while goalie Samantha Churcher ended with 15 saves.
With the win, Fullerton awaits the winner of the second semi-final of the afternoon, where their conference rival Riverside City College takes on NorCal #1 West Valley College. The Championship Game is set for a 1:30 PM start.
