Carpinteria's Roxanne Hugo draws an ejection in transition on Mayfield's Katherine Rouse in the first half.
Carpinteria's Carter Grant had to fight hard for every shot on Tuesday but scored twice.
Carpinteria was on the wrong end of an exciting fourth quarter on Tuesday, as the Warriors’ girls water polo team fell 10-8 to visiting Mayfield in the first round of Division-VI CIF.
The Cubs outscored the Warriors 3-2 in the final period and held on after Carpinteria threatened to come from behind for the victory with a third quarter surge.
“I really thought we were rolling then and I thought things were going to go well,” said Warriors head coach Brian Swarm. “We were ready to take this step and win this game, we just got up against a good team that was shooting well today.”
Mayfield took a 6-3 lead into halftime and scored the second half’s first goal. Carpinteria trailed by four goals more than half-way through the third period but sophomore Maddie Brooks supplied two quick scores on perimeter shots to shift the momentum.
The Warriors’ defense then forced a shot-clock violation and Kalia Dilioa trimmed Mayfield’s lead to 7-6 with her one goal of the game.
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Carter Grant and Roxanne Hugo scored for the Warriors in the fourth quarter, but Mayfield held its ground with three scores on perfectly placed shots from the perimeter. Katherine Rouse and Amanda Wilson provided the scoring for the Cubs in the final quarter.
“It’s amazing,” said Cubs co-head coach Richard Dybas. “It’s been an absolute blessing – this team. They’re amazing.”
It is the first time in the program’s history that Mayfield has reached the second round of CIF.
Carpinteria finished second in the Tri-Valley League this year and won 16 games.
“We had a really, really great season. I think it’s one of the better seasons Carpinteria’s ever seen. The girls played hard,” Swarm said.
The Warrior players felt the same way.
“CIF doesn’t happen on accident and we’re sad we didn’t get to win but we played hard,” Gabi Garcia said.
Brooks led the Warriors with three goals on Tuesday. Carter Grant, the team’s leading scorer throughout the season, scored twice from 2-meters. Hugo also scored twice.
The Warriors are graduating several seniors from the team’s nucleus.
“I’m so sad to be leaving. This season has seemed so long and I can’t believe it’s over,” said Hugo. “I hope it doesn’t hit me soon. It’s gonna be really sad. This is a really cool sport and, like I said, it’s a special group of girls.”
Hope Grant tries to make things difficult for Mayfield's outside shooters
