Brittny Hummel’s score with five seconds left capped a four-goal, fourth-quarter rally that gave the San Marcos girls water polo team a thrilling 10-9 Channel League victory over Ventura on Thursday in the Royals’ pool.
San Marcos – trailing 9-6 entering the final period – captured a share of third place in league with the Cougars thanks to the incredible triumph and will face Ventura again on Friday in a play-in game to decide the league’s third automatic playoff bid.
Jade Fitzgerald was on her game, netting six goals that included the first three Royal scores in the fourth quarter. Zoe Kirker added two goals and Flo Chardon, who assisted on Hummel’s game-winner, recorded a goal and five steals.
Head coach Brian Roth praised Parinda Sukavivatanachai and Rose Koper for their work on the defensive end, saying they enabled the Royals to stick to their gameplan of playing man-to-man defense as much as possible.
“Those girls were so solid defensively, they played amazing,” said Roth, crediting the two slowing down Stanford-bound Alexis Lee – who posted six goals but three were in the first quarter.
At the end, with the score locked up at nine-all, Roth called a timeout with 23 seconds on the clock. Out of the timout, Fitzgerald drew a kickout on Lee with 11 seconds to go. Hummel was the one to take the final shot and did not waste the opportunity.
San Marcos won the coinflip so Friday’s game will be played in the Royals’ pool at 1 p.m.
SAN MARCOS 10, VENTURA 9
Ventura 4 2 3 0 – 9
San Marcos 1 3 2 4 – 10
Goals – V Lee 6, Hansen 2, Krumpler 1. SM Fitzgerald 6, Kirker 2, Chardon, Hummel. Goalie Saves – SM Lovett 6. Records – SM 15-12, 3-5 CL.
