Huskies Lead Throughout in Victory over Chaffey

by Cerwin D Haynes

(article photos by Henry Caceras)

With post-COVID challenges hitting East LA College women's water polo team harder than most, it was going to take some time for the program get back in the mix of conference competitiveness. The team has spent the last two seasons at the bottom of the SCC standings, but this season, all signs are pointing to the program beginning to turn a corner. Today's game with Chaffey College served more evidence of said uptick with East (5-9, 2-2) scoring a 14-8 victory over the visiting Panthers (4-6, 1-3). Freshman UT Jimena Vargas and sophomore UT Isabella Pizana scored four goals apiece, with both shooting better than 50% from the pool. Vargas lead the team in assists with six, while freshman G Lilac Cobos had 12 saves while providing stout net protection for most of the game.

Coming out of haltime with a 6-4 lead, the Huskies opened the third quarter with a goal just 17 seconds in. But Chaffey then scored two straight goals to cut to lead to 7-6 before the home Green peeled off four straight scores within two minutes of play to push their lead to five at 11-6. East outscored the Panther 3-2 in the final frame to keep Chaffey at bay.

HUSKY BITS

• The win today served as a nice birthday present to Pizana, who's performance was key. To date, she's second on the team in scoring (30 goals), and third in assists (14) and total points (44).
• Cobos also had two steals and an assist to add to her work in front of the home net.

UP NEXT:

The Huskies can stay home the rest of the week as they prepare to host Cerritos next Wednesday November 11 at 3pm.