SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – It was a celebratory weekend for the Santa Barbara City College Women’s Water Polo team as they captured the program’s 12th consecutive Western State Conference (WSC) title, comfortably defeating Ventura and Cuesta in the process.
A reminder that Head Coach Chuckie Roth and the Vaqueros—ranked No. 2 in the state in the final poll of the year—began their Aquatics program 12 seasons ago. They have won the conference championship every year of their existence, and this is the 10th straight year going undefeated in conference play.
Thus, the Vaqueros checked off an important but expected box this weekend, which was hosted at Cuesta College. They will set their sights on a bigger crown—a 3C2A title—when the postseason begins at the SoCal Regionals on Thursday.
Santa Barbara 21, Ventura 4
The top-seeded Vaqueros made quick work of fourth-seeded Ventura in the semifinal on Friday. They took a 6-0 lead after the first quarter and a 13-2 lead by halftime as Olivia Spieth and May Guidoux each logged a hat trick of assists.
Naturally, the second half was more of the same, with the final score being 21-4. Four Vaqueros scored three goals (Sophie McGehee, Tessa Hidalgo, Larsen Jensen, and Luciana Grooms). Furthermore, four Vaqueros dished three or more assists, with Katie Strohl (four) leading the group that also included Alina King and the aforementioned Spieth and Guidoux.
Santa Barbara 15, Cuesta 3
That set up the WSC Championship game against the hosts, second-seeded Cuesta, on Saturday. The characteristically strong Vaquero defense shut out the Cougars in the opening frame—3-0—and again scored seven goals in the second on the way to a 10-1 halftime lead. Spieth had a hat trick with five minutes still left in the second quarter.
Thus, the Vaqueros cruised to a 15-3 final. Spieth led the team with three goals, and goalie Ava Barclay led the team with three assists. Showcasing their depth, 12 different Vaqueros were involved in the 15 goals.
Defensively, McGehee had a team-leading four steals. Tessa Hidalgo drew four exclusions.
Santa Barbara now travels to Long Beach for the Thursday-through-Saturday SoCal Regionals next week, opponents to be determined. Should they advance as one of the South region’s top-four seeds, they will compete at the 3C2A Championships the following Thursday through Saturday, hosted at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.