Women’s Water Polo Advances to SoCal Semifinals, Handles Cuesta with Ease

The fifth-seeded Riverside City College women's water polo team entered into California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern Regional action on Thursday by facing the 12^th seeded Cuesta College Cougars. The Tigers jumped out to a six-point lead and never looked back resulting in an 18-8 triumph.

The Tigers scored four-consecutive goals to begin the game with sophomore Lauren Loffelmacher getting the melee going. Sophomore tandem Amber Nielsen and Taylor Mason followed, while freshman Jessie Nelson hummed home a score.

It was all Riverside from then on. The Tigers held Cuesta to a mere goal in the first and third quarters to highlight their defensive efforts. As a team, they recorded 20 steals led by freshman Kylee Hieda who pocketed five. Freshman Kenndey Guidizi was nipping at her heals with four.

Nelseon led the Tigers in socring with five goals, while Loffelmacher followed with four goals. Nielsen and Mason fired home three each.

Of the Tigers' 18 goals, 17 were assisted as Guidizi lofted up a team high four assists, while Nielsen backed her with three.

Sophomore Gabrielle Fisher earned her 18^th win of the season after playing two quarters and earning three saves. Freshman Aniela Guzman finished the game out leading to five saves.

Riverside advances to the semifinal round and will face off against Orange Empire Conference (OEC) foe and fourth-seeded Fullerton College Hornets at 10:15 a.m.

It will be the rubber match between the two teams as Fullerton edged them out, 16-8, in the beginning of the season, but Riverside defeated Fullerton, 7-6, in their latest showdown.