SportsWater Polo

Water polo dives into season cold

The women’s water polo team played its first game against Cal State Hayward on Saturday at the La Verne Aquatic Center. Hayward’s driver Jessica Araujo (No. 3) blocks against University of La Verne driver Kari Erickson. La Verne lost the game, 5-3, to the Pioneers. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz
The women’s water polo team played its first game against Cal State Hayward on Saturday at the La Verne Aquatic Center. Hayward’s driver Jessica Araujo (No. 3) blocks against University of La Verne driver Kari Erickson. La Verne lost the game, 5-3, to the Pioneers. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz

by Jamie Mahoney
Staff Writer

The women’s water polo team began its season with a 5-3 loss to the much more experienced team from Cal State Hayward Saturday at the La Verne Aquatic Center.

The Leopards, who have only held five practices due to the end of the swimming and diving season, performed well but were unable to keep up with the Pioneers of CSUH, who have played 15 games leading up to Saturday’s contest.

“It is just going to take time to put it all together,” head coach Tim Hugar said.

The team was down 2-1 at the half and came back and scored two more goals.

That was not enough, however, to match the three goals scored by Hayward, making the game 5-3.

Junior goalie Jessica Figgins made nine saves throughout the game.

Freshmen Jessica Egbert and Valerie Keehmer, and junior Kristin McKown scored goals for the Leopards.

The team, which Hugar said is evenly matched, does not seem to have one star player.

“A lot of people did some good things out there today,” he said.

“I think we performed well,” Egbert said. “We have some work to do, but if we keep it up we will do well.”

Most of the players seem to share the same view.

They were at a disadvantage having been together for such a short period of time before their first game.

“If we had more practice we could have won. We just need more time together,” freshman Lynea Loeffler said.

The team is very young with only one junior.

Coach Hugar said as a team they can make a lot of improvements on everything, but sees the potential in such a young group.

This weekend the Leopards travel north to take on Sonoma State and UC Santa Cruz.

Jamie Mahoney
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Reina Santa Cruz
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