Grace Raisin, Jewel Roemer, Abbi Hill, Paige Hauschild, and Ryann Neushul at 2015 Collegiate Cup. (Peter Neushul Photo)
Three generations of Santa Barbara Water Polo players met at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine over the weekend to participate in the 2015 Collegiate Cup. USA Water Polo’s Academy team, Arizona State, USC, UCLA, University of Hawaii, Long Beach State, Cal, and the University of Michigan met in tournament play that provided a preview for the 2016 collegiate season.
Kelsey O’Brien’s (SBHS/UCLA) Bruins defeated USC and Amanda Longan (SBWPC/USC) 4-2 in the championship game. UCLA won the round-robin final after an overtime loss to Madeline Trabucco’s (SBHS/Cal) Cal Bears in a 8.3 to 8.4 shootout earlier in the day. Trabucco blocked two shots, including the game decider to give Cal its first victory over UCLA in over 5 years. Cal fell 8-4 to USC in its semifinal match.
Defending champion Stanford, with Jamie Neushul (DPHS/Stanford) and Shannon Cleary (DPHS/Stanford), did not compete in this year’s Collegiate Cup because their goalie was not cleared to play after an injury.
USA Water Polo’s Academy team with Santa Barbara Water Polo’s Paige Hauschild, Abbi Hill, Ryann Neushul, Grace Raisin, and Jewel Roemer placed 8th in the tournament, losing 10-4 to Cal and 8-4 to UC Irvine and Mary Brooks (SBWPC/UCI) on the first day before rallying to defeat Long Beach State 12-7 Sunday morning and then losing to University of Hawaii 14-9 in the 7th-place game.
Saturday evening Team USA’s Senior National Team met China in their first competition since winning the 2015 World Championship in Kazan, Russia over the summer. Kami Craig (SBHS/USC), Sami Hill (DPHS/UCLA), Kodi Hill (DPHS/UCLA), and Kiley Neushul (DPHS/Stanford) are all training for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Team USA defeated China 14-3 in front of a large crowd at the Woollett Center. Neushul led all scorers with 4 goals and Kodi Hill scored her first international goal with the senior team. Sami Hill had six blocks in the second half to lead all goalkeepers.
Team USA will play Australia at Dos Pueblos High on Nov. 27, at 2 p.m.
