Cate’s Sophia Soriano tussles with Carpinteria’s Leticia Cruz in front of the cage on Wednesday. (Presidio Sports Photos)
Caroline Montgomery and the Cate girls water polo team erupted for 10 second-half goals in a 16-9 victory over Carpinteria on Wednesday that secured the Rams’ best-ever Tri-Valley League finish.
Cate’s 8-2 record is good for second place behind Oaks Christian (9-1).
“All season we’ve been working on our lane defense and I think we really did that well today,” Montgomery said. “And on offense, when we needed to light it up , we made our goals.”
Cate led 6-4 after two quarters.
“At halftime we talk about how we’re a second-half team,” Montgomery said, citing the team’s conditioning as a common advantage.
Montgomery said the win on Senior Day was bittersweet because it meant her high school career was coming to an end. As the league’s second seed, it’s possible it was Cate’s last home game. Other seniors on the team include Sophia Soriano, Sophie Maes, Chloe King and Anna Lueck.
“It’s the seniors’ last game, we’re a senior heavy team,” Montgomery said. “So everyone’s determined to leave their mark out in the pool.”
Each senior scored at least once and the quintet combined for all but two of the team’s 16 goals.
Carpinteria sophomore Brenda Rodriguez led the Warriors with five goals.
Caroline Montgomery was one of five Cate players honored on Senior Day.
Cate head coach Nathan Alldredge admires this year’s team for their work ethic.
“To me the difference is that it’s a group of girls who really know how to work hard but have fun too,” Alldredge said, noting that he’s had one or the other in his seven years of coaching at Cate, but never hard-working and fun at the same time. “This was the perfect blend.”
Montgomery led all scorers with six goals. The senior is a four-year all-league player for the Rams.
“Oaks Christian has a great goalie, but other than that, (Caroline) is the best player in our league,” Alldredge said.
Carpinteria sophomore Brenda Rodriguez led the Warriors with five of their nine goals. Sierra Garibay scored twice.
Rodriguez’s second goal gave the Warriors a 4-3 lead early in the second quarter. From that moment, Cate outscored Carpinteria 12-2 in a stretch that bridged the second, third and fourth quarters.
The Warriors scored three of the last four goals, starting with Garibay’s second goal on an assist from Rodriguez that made it 15-7 with four minutes to go.
Carpinteria, which enjoyed a successful playoff run from 2011 to 2013, ends it season on Thursday against Nordhoff.
“We have the biggest team ever so the future looks good,” said Warriors head coach Bryan Swarm.
Cate will learn its CIF playoff opponent on Sunday.
CATE 16, CARPINTERIA 9
Carp 1 3 2 3 – 9
Cate 3 3 5 5 – 16Carp Scorers – Rodriguez 5, Garibay 2, Grant 1, Methmann 1.
Cate Scorers – Montgomery 6, Soriano 3, Maes 2, King 2, Satterfield 1, Connel 1, Lueck-1
Carp Saves – Hipple 9
Cate Saves – Sheary 6
