Vaqueros top Golden West 9-4 in battle of unbeatens

SBCC built an 8-3 halftime lead on Friday afternoon on the way to a 9-4 women's water polo victory over Golden West in a battle of undefeated teams at the Cuesta Rabobank Tournament.

The Vaqueros (12-0) took on Cuesta in a WSC match earlier in the day in San Luis Obispo and won the first quarter 6-0 en route to an 11-7 triumph. Mackenzie Richards played the first 1 1/2 quarters in the cage and didn't allow a goal. She was relieved by Victoria Bruno who made four saves.

Santa Barbara, the two-time defending WSC champion, is 3-0 in WSC play. Cuesta fell to 9-5 and 0-2.

Halie Johnson scored four times vs. Cuesta and Bailey Gonzalez and Lili Talkin had four steals each. Gabrielle Ritter tallied four first-half goals vs. the Rustlers (12-1) and Johnson had a hat trick. Addison Seale notched four assists and Carr added two assists and three steals.

The Vaqueros scored six goals in 6-on-5 power plays.

"I was really proud of our team because Golden West was well coached and a very good team," said coach Chuckie Roth. "In the end, we got some big 6-on-5 stops and we put away a few clutch goals. Nicole Cosares' buzzer-beater at the end of the second quarter was really big.

"We played as a team as we were forced to go deep with several players in foul trouble."

The Vaqueros will take on Long Beach at 11 a.m. on Saturday and unbeaten Riverside (14-0) at 2:15 p.m.

SBCC …………......….  6   2   1   2 -- 11
Cuesta …….…...……. 0   2   1   4 --   7
 Goals – SB: Johnson 4, Carr 2, Bilaver 1, Mroz 1, Beck 1, Ritter 1. Goalie Saves – SB: Bruno 4, Richards 3.

Golden West ……….  2   1   0   1 -- 4
SBCC …….…...……….  4   4   0   1 -- 9
 Goals – SB: Ritter 4, Johnson 3, Cosares 2. Goalie Saves – SB: Richards 7.