The Matadors overcome three-goal deficit en route to an exciting first-round win
On Oct. 22, the girls varsity water polo team won 11-10 against a resilient Stevenson High School. In an effort to prepare the team’s juniors for next year, varsity coach Ben Vierra gave bench players playing time in the game. However, seniors Nicolet Danese and Gabriela Antonova ended up scoring all 11 of the Lady Mats’ goals, including eight in the final two quarters and the game-winner.
“We came in thinking that it would be an easy game,” Antonova said. “But in the end, we picked it up.”
The game began with three early goals by Danese and Antonova, giving the Lady Mats an early 3-0 lead with 2:06 left in the first period. However, the Stevenson Pirates countered with a buzzer-beating goal that went past goalie junior Himani Kukreja.
The second period consisted of strong defense from both teams, including several impressive saves from Kukreja. However, the Pirates managed to stay in front of the Matadors by matching up defensively against Danese and Antonova, the top offensive weapons.
“We matched the intensity and adjusted to their offense,” Stevenson coach Kevin Schroedter said. “It took a while, but we did it.”
Tied 4-4 at the start of the third period, the Pirates scored three consecutive goals, two by senior Brianne West. The Lady Mats responded with three goals of their own, including two powerful shots by Danese. A Stevenson score with 58 seconds remaining in the third then gave the Pirates a one-goal lead heading into the fourth.
“Sometimes [we] have mental breakdowns,” Vierra said. “In the third quarter, we had our heads out of the game, and they got easy goals on us.”
Despite having the momentum going into the fourth because of three consecutive goals, the game was far from finished for the Lady Mats. After a timeout called by Schroedter with MVHS leading 10-9, junior Holly Carlsberg of Stevenson tied up the game on a wild steal and score. However, in one of the wildest finishes to a game this season, Danese saved the game from going into overtime by scoring with 3.4 seconds left, sealing the win.
“[Danese] is one of our top offensive scorers and it was nice to see her pull it through,” Vierra said after the game.
Danese finished with a total of seven goals, and Antonova had four. The game was closer than expected, in part because of the time given to the second-stringers. Still, it was a satisfactory win for the Matadors and a bitter loss for the Pirates.
“I told [my team that] there are no winners or losers in this game,” Schroedter said. “But it’s hard to lose at the last second like that.”
At this point in the season, the Lady Mats look to continue their success in their last home game of the season against Homestead High School Mustangs on October 28th. A win against the Mustangs will give the team a strong chance to qualify for Central Coast Section playoffs.
