Leah Gonzales made sure it was a happy ending for the Santa Barbara girls water polo team in its season opener on Friday, capturing an 8-7 win for the Dons on a sudden-death score at Long Beach Poly.
Gonzales’ goal, her second of the match, came in the fourth overtime period. Charlotte Hendrix assisted on the game-winner and tallied three goals, three assists and three drawn ejections in a complete game.
Santa Barbara couldn’t have pulled out the win, against Div. I’s No. 4 team, without the solid debuts of two freshmen, Maddie Trabucco and Kelsey O’Brien. Trabucco stopped 10 shots in goal while O’Brien recorded six steals and two goals.
Makenzy Fowler also scored for the Dons, ranked No. 5 in Div. I to start the season.
“I thought we played really well as a unit, especially on defense,” said Dons head coach Mark Walsh.
Santa Barbara’s season-opening road trip concludes on Saturday against Corona del Mar.
