SBCC overcame a rough start only to fall short in the California Community College Athletic Association Women’s Water Polo State Championship game, falling to West Valley College, 6-5, on Saturday at Las Positas College in Livermore.
West Valley (32-2) got out to a hot start, taking a 3-0 lead by the 5:05 mark of the opening period.
Resilient as they have been all season, the Vaqueros (30-7) fired back with three unanswered goals of their own. Emily Clapham scored first with 3:41 to go in the first quarter. Jenna Olson and Charlize Winter added goals in the the second quarter to tie it at 3-3.
“Talk about a team that never gives up,” head coach Chuckie Roth said. “The first three minutes were not the best of the season, but we quickly responded with an amazing game. Super proud of this team’s grit. Congrats to West Valley. I think we played a very great game.”
The Vikings would take two more one-goal leads before the fourth quarter. SBCC fought back to even things. Ensley Letterman made it 4-4 in the opening minute of the second half. Winter put away another equalizer with 6:51 remaining in the game, bringing it level at 5-5.
Despite a heroic performance from goalkeeper Chloe McKay, who tied a season-high with 13 saves, West Valley’s Johanna Scheer tucked away the game-winner with 5:49 to go.
Eden Tal ends the year as the Vaqueros’ leading scorer with 75 goals. The clutch play of Olson all year long saw her score 57 times. Winter (49) and Megan Ditlof (44) also crossed the 40-goal mark.