The Carpinteria girls water polo team faced a tough matchup with No. 3 Pasadena Poly, and were unable to stop a six-goal run in the fourth quarter and lost 13-3 on Thursday.
The Warriors won the Tri-Valley League for the first time in head coach Bryan Swarm’s tenure and received a first round bye. Pasadena Poly won the Prep League and hosted the CIF Division 6 second round game.
The match was tightly contested through the first three quarters, with Poly leading 5-2 at the half and 7-3 heading into the final period of play.
“It felt like a good game,” Swarm said. “Even at half time, I felt like we were still in it.”
Hope Grant, Maddie Brooks, and Tatiana Verdugo were the goalscorers for Carpinteria.
Goalie Vanessa Vega also had an fine performance with nine saves.
But after the third quarter, Poly proved its 20-2 record on the season was deserved and held the Warriors scoreless while putting away six goals.
“In the fourth quarter we just ran out of gas,” Swarm said.
It was a disappointing letdown for the Warriors.
“It always ends abruptly unless you win it all,” Swarm said.
But an 18-10 record on the season and a Tri-Valley League title leaves the team with plenty to be proud of.
“Overall, I thought it was a very successful season,” Swarm concluded.
SCORE BY QUARTER:
Carp 0 2 1 0 — 3
Poly 3 2 2 6 — 13
