It’s time for some ink, Camille Wissman.
The Santa Barbara sophomore scored a career-high five goals on Tuesday to help the Dons girls water polo team devour San Marcos 13-1 in a Channel League matchup in the Royals’ pool.
“She’s a great defensive player, but she obviously doesn’t get her name in the paper a lot because she doesn’t get a lot of goals,” said her head coach, Mark Walsh. “So I’m really pleased for her.”
The Royals contained the Dons, ranked No. 10 in Div. I, through the first quarter, only allowing Makenzy Fowler to break through to give Santa Barbara a tiny 1-0 advantage after one.
Then Wissman went to work, collecting four straight scores in the second period after Samantha King put the Dons up 2-0 to start the quarter.
“I usually don’t score this highly in a game so that’s why it was so exciting for me,” Wissman admitted, but then noted that it was a team win that can only help them come playoffs.
The Dons (11-16, 6-1) locked up second place in the Channel League with the victory and only have No. 1 Dos Pueblos on Thursday before playoffs begin.
San Marcos, meanwhile, faces a crucial Thursday matchup at home against Ventura. It will be Senior Day, with the Royals honoring four-year players Parinda Sukavivatanachai, Kristen Beifuss and Autumn Lovett before the game.
A victory would bring the Royals (14-12, 2-5) and Cougars into a tie for third-place in league and would force a play-in playoff game on Friday.
But playoffs weren’t exactly on coach Brian Roth’s mind following what he deemed a disappointing loss to the Dons.
“We were not very good water polo players today,” lamented Roth, who was discouraged because he felt his players didn’t come to play in such a huge game against their crosstown rivals.
“It was the hardest loss of my entire coaching career,” Roth continued, partly blaming himself for the lack of preparedness.
Jade Fitzgerald helped the Royals avoid the shutout by netting an outside shot two minutes into the third quarter.
Dons keeper Chloe Brooks only got her fingertips on that shot but stopped 11 others.
SANTA BARBARA 13, SAN MARCOS 1
Santa Barbara 1 5 3 4 – 13
San Marcos 0 0 1 0 – 1
Goals – SB (Wissman 5, Fowler 3, King 2, Cusimano 1, Ingalls 1, Hendrix 1), SM (Fitzgerald).
