Vaqueros go 1-1 at Mountie Invitational

Rocio Fesembeck scored eight goals on Friday and SBCC split a pair of women's water polo games in the 18th annual Mountie Invitational at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

The Vaqueros (5-7) got revenge on Cypress with a 7-4 win in the morning. The Chargers edged the Vaqueros 15-14 on Sept. 6 in the Cypress tourney.

Fesembeck, a former Santa Barbara High standout, tallied four goals with Kaitlyn Wentz Fitzgerald, Maddie Brooks and Paula Tkach notching one apiece. Brooks had two assists and Fesembeck drew seven ejections for the Vaqueros, who led 3-1 at halftime.

Goalkeeper Autumn Lovett recorded 11 saves and a steal.

"We played very well against Cypress and I was proud of our team," said coach Chuckie Roth. "We showed a four-goal improvement over the last time we played them."

Fesembeck added four more goals against a Mt. SAC team that is now 8-1 on the year. She leads the WSC with 43 goals in 12 games (3.6 avg.).

Wentz Fitzgerald had two goals while Fesembeck had two assists and six ejections. Brooks (1 goal), Jessica Leathers and Abdiel "AJ" Gravatt also had two assists each. Lovett had seven saves, four steals and one assist.

"We are in the process of building a team culture," Roth said after the Mt. SAC game. "We were down by three early in the first quarter and we fought back to tie it 5-5 at the half. It was a great battle the rest of the way.

"Our girls are showing how tough they can be."

The Vaqueros advanced to the playoffs of the 14-team tourney and will battle Long Beach on Saturday at 10:20 a.m.

SBCC ……….............  1   2   4   0 -- 7
Cypress …...….….…  1   0   3   0 -- 4
 Goals--SB: Fesembeck 4, Wentz Fitzgerald 1, Brooks 1, Tkach 1. Goalie saves--SB: Lovett 11.

SBCC ……….................... 3   2   2   0 --   7
Mt. San Antonio ….…… 4   1   3   2 -- 10
 Goals--SB: Fesembeck 4, Wentz Fitzgerald 2, Brooks 1. Goalie saves--SB: Lovett 7.