SMC Women’s Water Polo floats a win

Following a tough loss, the Lady Corsairs water polo team responded with a convincing 11-7 win over Rio Hondo College this past Tuesday at the Santa Monica College pool. The Corsairs have now won all three meetings against Rio Hondo this season.

Driver Patty Salgado lead with the Corsairs with five goals.

Following the game, Salgado felt that the team drove the ball well offensively and got back to defend swiftly.

Throughout the game, the Corsairs relied on a fast-paced offense to score.

“We are a fast team, so we utilize our speed to counterattack and win,” Salgado said.

In the match on Wednesday Oct. 19, the Corsairs were defeated by L.A. Valley College at SMC, by a score of 14-4.

The Lady Corsairs won possession of the ball to start the game, and in matter of seconds freshman, Samantha Lambour, scored the first goal.

L.A. Valley freshman Michelle Mercado would score on the next possession to tie the game.

Monique Karidis would also score in the period to put L.A. Valley up 2-1 going into intermission.

The Monarchs would score two more goals at the start of the second period, but the Corsairs responded with two well-executed strikes by Salgado. However, the opposition were relentless and SMC would allow two more goals to end the half down 6-3 to the Monarchs.

“Are you guys seeing that score?

It should be the opposite, we should be winning the game,” Corsair head coach Steve Contarsy said to his team over the break.

L.A. Valley dominated the Lady Corsairs in the third period, adding five points to their lead and taking control of the game.

The Lady Corsairs had a good chance to score when Gillian Wooler connected with driver Samantha Lambour, but the opposing team goalie, Chelsea Ysaguirre, was able to stop the shot.

The fourth quarter was strewn with highlights from the Lady Corsairs’, Tricia Lu and Salgado, who had numerous steals. The Monarchs would score three more goals that ultimately sealed their victory.

Alejandra Galvan scored the last goal of the game for the Lady Corsairs, and goalie Jacquelyn McGuire made an excellent save against the Monarchs.

“The team played well the first half. In the second half I didn’t know what happened,” said Contarsy. “L.A. Valley played very strong, it is an aggressive team. But we have to be able to handle the pressure.” It was the third time that Lady Corsairs confronted L.A. Valley this season, with each game resulting in a loss.

Following both games, the Corsairs (3-15) have one tournament left before entering the Western State Conference Championships on Nov. 5 and 6.