The top-ranked SBCC women’s water polo team capped a perfect month of September with four wins at the 24th Mechanic’s Bank Invitational at Cuesta College, improving to 15-0 on the season.
The 15 straight wins is the best start since 2016, when the Vaqueros began 22-0.
SBCC defeated Cuesta (12-3), No. 2-ranked Riverside CC (10-7), No. 8 Long Beach CC (11-8) and Saddleback (11-7).
“All in all, each game is a true team effort,” head coach Chuckie Roth said. “We have a good balance, and everyone makes impacts.”
He praised freshman Erin Otsuki for “the best game of her career,” against Cuesta. Otsuki is a former Carpinteria High standout.
Otsuki, Addie Lane, and Gabrielle Muehring all had 2 goals for a box score that had 9 different Vaquero goalscorers.
Match two was a heavyweight battle—the #1-ranked Vaqueros (12-0) versus #2-ranked Riverside City (10-1), a rematch of Riverside’s only loss, an 11-10 thriller against SBCC at Riverside two weeks prior.
It was a steady barrage for the Vaqueros, who led the entirety of the match from the first goal. The first quarter ended 2-1, and SBCC was up 6-2 before Riverside scored 2 goals in the final three minutes of the half.
A clutch third quarter led by Cate Daland, Muehring, and Lily Carrick, all scoring their second goals of the match, meant the Vaqueros were up 9-5 heading into the fourth quarter. The defense would close it out with a final score of 10-7.
“A very physical game!” added assistant coach Paige Treloar-Ballard. “The team did a great job of staying positive and motivated.”
“Everyone makes big plays and impacts the team,” Roth said. “A great example of this is Sofia Paez, who had 2 clutch steals in the last two-and-a-half minutes.”
Caroline Oates led the team with 6 steals and was the fourth multi-goal scoring Vaquero with a goal to ice the match in the fourth quarter.
Freshman goalie Kate Densmore continued her stellar season, compiling 17 saves.
Against Long Beach, the Vaqueros were leading 8-7 late in the third quarter before Lily Carrick dished an assist to Addie Lane. Carrick then assisted Gabrielle Muehring to open the scoring in the fourth, and the Vaqueros won.
Lane accounted for in 7 goals (5 scored, 2 assisted) and had 2 steals. Gabrielle Muehring had a goal, an assist, and also 2 steals. Natalie Mancinelli scored 2 goals, as well.
The Vaqueros showed no signs of a letdown against Saddleback, roaring to a 7-2 lead. Saddleback never got within 3 goals from there.
“Today was a great challenge for us,” Roth said. “We were led offensively by Addie Lane, Mancinelli, and Daland pushing on the counterattack. Lily Carrick led in steals and defensive plays made.”
Carrick had 3 steals and 2 exclusions drawn. Daland had 3 goals and added an assist. Mancinelli scored 2 goals, and Lane and Maddie Myers each had 2 steals and a goal. Caroline Oates had a goal, a steal, and 2 exclusions drawn.
SBCC will continue its season next weekend at the Ventura College Tournament, before a home match against Ventura on October 11 at Santa Barbara High School.