Women’s Water Polo Splits in Home Opener

The Riverside City College women's water polo team competed at home for the first time this season on Friday by hosting the Orange Coast College Pirates and the Golden West College Rustlers in non-conference action. The Tigers split on the day after dropping a back and forth affair to the Pirates, but rebounding for a dominant victory over the Rustlers.

GAME ONE

It was a very close game from the jump despite Orange Coast taking a quick 3-0 lead halfway through the first quarter. Freshman Jessie Nelson took matters into her own hands early by firing home a pair of goals in a matter of two minutes to bring the Tigers within one. The Pirates continued to distance themselves by scoring another goal to go up by two, but a goal each from sophomore tandem Lauren Loffelmacher and Taylor Mason knotted the game even at four-all.

Both sides traded goals in the second period with J. Nelson locating the back of the net two times. Sophomore Lauren Nelson added a score as well to bring the score to 8-7 in OCC's favor.

The second half of the contest was all Orange Coast as they outscored the Tigers 10-4 down the stretch leading to an 18-11 loss.

J. Nelson finished with a career-high seven goals and added an assist along the way. Loffelmacher followed with two goals, while freshman Kylee Hieda and L. Nelson pocketed three steals.

Sophomore Gabriella Fisher was tabbed with the loss after recording a mere four saves in three quarters of work.

GAME TWO

Game two leaned heavily in the Tiger's favor after a tight first half. Golden West captured an early 3-1 advantage after Riverside missed a handful of shots.

Nevertheless, they went on to score five goals in the second quarter sparked by two goals from L. Nelson. Freshman Kennedy Guidizi, J. Nelson and sophomore Amber Nielson each had a score as well.

Riverside took over in the second half and destroyed any chance of a Golden West victory. They outscored them 10-0. Nielsen and J. Nelson fired home three goals each to highlight the melee leading to a commanding 16-5 win.

J. Nelson and Nielsen led with four goals each, while Nielsen drew four ejections.

Loffelmacher was an assist machine by dishing out four, while freshman tandem Jaeden Johnson and Grace Deen each contributed two assists.

Fisher had a strong day between the posts with eight saves to record the win, while freshman Daniela Guzman hauled in five save in two quarters.