Santa Barbara High’s girls water polo team held Dos Pueblos scoreless in the final nine minutes and won the crosstown battle, 8-6, in the Tournament of Champions on Saturday.
Sophomore Abby Webber broke a 6-6 tie late in the third period and Layla Szymczak scored early in the fourth on a power play for an 8-6 lead.
Szymczak led the Dons with three goals and two steals. Webber had two goals and two steals and Sophie Johnson also scored a pair of goals. Goalie Nalani Yim made nine saves.
The Dons lost against top-ranked Newport Harbor 12-5 and No. 2 Laguna Beach 15-4.
Allison Bartholomew scored twice and drew four exclusions against Newport Harbor. Johnson had a goal and drew two exclusions.
Szymczak tallied a pair of goals and Bartholomew had a goal and earned four exclusions.
‘I am incredibly proud of the girls’ effort this weekend,” said Santa Barbara coach Mark Walsh. “We played the top three teams in CIF Division 1 this weekend and then had to finish against our cross-town rival Dos Pueblos.”
The Dons will play a rescheduled Channel League game against Dos Pueblos on Monday.