Women’s Water Polo Reaches 14th Straight OEC Championship Game

The Riverside City College women's water polo squad entered into the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Championships as the second seed in hopes of setting themselves up for a second-straight conference title. They began the tournament by routing the Santa Ana College Dons, 19-2, followed by a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Golden West College Rustlers to send them to their 14^th straight OEC Championship ballad.

Game One – Santa Ana vs. Riverside

The Tigers scored four or more goals in each stanza to establish their dominance from the get go. Furthermore, the Tiger defense halted the Dons to just a pair of goals with one coming in the first and the second coming in the fourth.

Sophomore attacker Megin Bannes (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) experienced a career-game by firing home three goals while dishing out four assists. Freshman attacker Emily Heighes (Beamount, CA) had a phenomenal showing as well by recording a game-high five assists to go along with a pair of goals.

Freshman center Kate Fox (Murrieta, CA) held it down in the middle by humming home four goals. Freshman attacker Katy Peterson (Menifee, CA) and freshman attacker Riley Hart (Lake Elsinore, CA) each fired home two goals as well.

Freshman goalkeeper Katelin Simonson (Magna, UT) earned the start in the cage and hauled in the win after notching six saves and one assist.

Game Two – Golden West vs. Riverside

Riverside found themselves in a strong battle in the semifinal matchup against the Rustlers.

RCC jumped out to an early lead compliments of a pair of goals from sophomore attacker Dafne Garcia (Mexico City, NM) and an opening goal from sophomore defender Anay Ramirez (Riverside, CA). Fox traded a goal with Golden West in the second quarter to hand the Tigers a 4-2 lead entering into the second half.

However, RCC failed to score in the third frame and succumbed to a 4-0 run from the Rustlers and faced a 6-4 deficit entering into the final eight minutes of action.

Riverside stayed poised and continued to play hard in the fourth quarter. Both teams traded goals in the early stages with Peterson striking first, followed by a netter from sophomore attacker Cassidy Muller (Riverside, CA).

With just under three minutes remaining, Riverside muscled up and went on a 3-0 run capped off by a game-winning score off the hand of Peterson en route to a 9-8 victory.

Freshman goalkeeper Hannah McCarley (Riverside, CA) was clutch throughout the entire game by recording 12 saves and pocketing two timely steals.

Garcia led the offensive initiatives with three goals, backed by two netters from Fox and Peterson.

The Tigers (23-2, 5-1 OEC, 2-0 OEC Tournament) have now reached 14-consecutive conference finals and will face off against the Orange Coast College Pirates tomorrow at 3:10 p.m.