The new-look Santa Barbara girls water polo team recorded a 12-7 season-opening win against Santa Margarita on Friday in the Dons’ pool after falling behind early to the Eagles.
Santa Barbara, which graduated every starter from last year’s CIF finalist squad, gave up four first-quarter goals before settling down defensively to limit Santa Margarita to three goals total in the next three quarters. After falling behind 4-2, the Dons outscored the Eagles 10-3 the rest of the way.
“It was probably our inexperience; none of these girls started last year,” said Dons head coach Mark Walsh of the early deficit, saying that his team — without a single senior — couldn’t be any younger.
“The thing I was most encouraged by was that they did go down early but they did come back.”
Freshman Charlotte Hendrix and Olivia Cusimano led the Dons with three goals each. Leah Gonzales and MaKenzy Fowler put in two more and Samantha King and Elle Ingalls scored one each. Hendrix also assisted on four of the Dons scores.
“We’re a really young team this year but I think that Walsh is a great coach and throughout the season we’ll get a lot better,” said Gonzales, the squad’s lone upperclassman.
Santa Barbara keeper Chloe Brooks tallied six saves — all in the second half — and got an assist on a long pass that set up an easy fourth-quarter score for Gonzales.
“She was great in the second half,” Walsh said of his goalie while also praising the team’s defense as a unit in the second half when they limited the Eagles to just two goals. He also noted Gonzales’ defense in the middle as a big part of the Dons’ enhanced defensive effort as the game progressed.
The Dons (1-0) have a date with another visiting Orange County school on Saturday. Corona del Mar takes on the Dons at 11 a.m.
SANTA BARBARA 12, SANTA MARGARTITA 7
Santa Barbara 4 2 2 4 – 12
Santa Margarita 4 1 1 1 – 7
SB Scores: Hendrix 3, Cusimano 3, Fowler 2, Gonzales 2, King, Ingalls.
SM Scores: Beck 3, Pulley 2, Martin, Avalos
Goalie Saves: SB Brooks, 6.
