Thursday’s 5-3 loss to No. 9 Fountain Valley provided a measuring stick for the improvement of the San Marcos girls water polo team. In their first game of the year, the Royals fell to the very same squad 13-5.
“We came out and played the best team defensive game we’ve played all year,” said coach Brian Roth.
Down 3-0 at the half, Roth challenged his players to get three goals of their own and hold Fountain Valley to under six in the game, and they did just that.
Brittny Hummel had a pair of goals and Hannah Koper added the other. Roth said that Zoe Kirker did a solid job playing 2-meter defense against a bruising Fountain Valley (19-5) opponent, and Mallory Zaunius made a handful of highlight-reel saves.
The Royals (12-8), begin play in the Bonita Tournament on Friday against La Salle of Pasadena.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY 5, SAN MARCOS 3
San Marcos…0 0 1 2 — 3
Fountain Valley…2 1 2 0 — 5
Goals — SM: BHummel 2, HKoper 1. FV: Fascella 3, Robert 1, Van Huton 1.
Goalie saves — FV: Catron 5, SM: Zaunius 5
