After a difficult weekend in the Bay Area, the UCSD women’s water polo team faced an even tougher test last weekend in the Long Beach State University Invitational. Despite facing some of the toughest opponents in the nation, the Tritons posted a strong third-place finish.
“”We were able to rest mentally and physically during the week,”” said head coach Larry Sanders. “”That really helped our performance this past weekend.””
The team started the weekend off with a match against Cal State Northridge. In what looked like a mismatch from the beginning, the Tritons easily dominated the helpless Matadors and crushed them 15-5. UCSD went 4-for-4 during man advantages leading to the victory.
Junior Dana Tucker led the charge with three goals while sophomore Meris Bantilan-Smith and junior transfer Elizabeth Keesey added two goals apiece. Keesey also tallied five steals.
“”We fully dominated from the beginning,”” said junior co-captain Danielle Boyle. “”Everything was clicking for us.””
The Tritons controlled Saturday’s game to beat UC Irvine for the fourth time in as many meetings this season with an 11-3 victory. Tucker again led the team with four goals, with Keesey firing in another three.
A junior transfer student from Grossmont College, Keesey has shone in recent moments with an impressive hot streak.
“”She’s making the most of her opportunities,”” said Sanders about Keesey. “”She’s improving, and that’s what we’re looking for.””
With two easy wins, the Tritons quickly raised the bar of competition and faced former No. 1-ranked Uuniversity of Southern California on Sunday. With Olympic-quality players on their side, the Trojans were simply too much for UCSD. Even with some solid play, UCSD couldn’t stop the USC juggernaut and fell 18-4.
“”We came out and played hard, and that’s what I’m proud of,”” Sanders said. “”This was valuable experience for our hopes of competing in the Final Four.””
Despite the loss, UCSD got what it wanted in the end: a rematch with then-fifth ranked Long Beach State. Still fuming after their stunning triple-overtime 10-9 loss to the ’49ers earlier this season, the Tritons vowed to take revenge.
The teams fought to a 4-4 halftime score, but the Tritons gained the first advantage as they held an 8-6 lead in the fourth period.
Long Beach tied the game at 9-9 and the two teams headed into their second straight overtime contest.
Senior Courtney Hemmerly scored UCSD’s go-ahead goal with about two minutes left in the period. Despite being one player down with 45 seconds left, UCSD’s defense shut out the ’49ers in the overtime period to pull off the 10-9 upset.
The win turned out to be sweeter than usual because the same Long Beach team defeated the Tritons’ Western Water Polo Association rival Loyola Marymount University only a few days earlier.
Juniors Tucker and Samara Silverman both tallied three goals, while Hemmerly finished the game with two goals.
“”We would lose the close games earlier in the season,”” Hemmerly said. “”But now we’re winning them, and that’s a huge confidence boost heading toward the [WWPA Conference Tournament].””
“”It was a battle all the way,”” Boyle said. “”I felt our dominating defense was the key.””
With this win, the Tritons added another victory against a top-10 opponent. They have defeated all but two teams this year, with San Jose State University and Loyola Marymount being the sole exceptions.
However, UCSD may get another crack at LMU since it seems likely the team will face LMU in the WWPA finals.
“”We really want to face [Loyola Marymount],”” Hemmerly said. “”Bring it on.””
For now, the team looks forward to its final home game of the season Friday at Canyonview Pool against San Diego State University at 6 p.m.
After that, the Tritons will journey to Santa Cruz for the WWPA Conference Tournament and try to earn a bid to the Final Four. Confidence abounds among the players as they head into the conclusion to the 2002 season.
“”After [the Long Beach invitational], we know we can challenge anyone,”” Boyle said. “”This is the time to peak and we’re doing just that.””
