On Thursday, Sept. 25 Varsity Girls Water Polo lost 4-5 in a close match against Santa Clara High School. SCHS started with strong momentum, with a 2-0 lead by the second period. The Matadors fought hard to contain SCHS in the third period, but struggled to close the gap, entering the fourth period down 3-0. In a final push, they managed to score an impressive three goals, while SCHS scored one point, ultimately securing the victory.
Despite the loss, Head Coach William Lieu believes this game represents a crucial step for the team, as the season is currently halfway through. While Lieu acknowledges that the first half of the season has been somewhat disappointing, he noticed a shift in energy in this game, which gives him optimism for the team’s future.
“I think the game went wonderfully,” Lieu said. “This was the best game that I have seen out of the girls this entire season, and they know it themselves as well. They gave their 100%. They wanted to win that game. It was an unfortunate loss, but the next time we see SCHS, we’ll beat them.”
Senior and captain Ria Sethi agrees, citing that the team has greatly improved in its defense. She notes that, while the team struggled to get travel across the pool fast enough in previous games, this time, they were able to remain focused and stay persistent.
For upcoming games, Lieu wants the team to practice being spatially aware to deny their opponents easy shots. Additionally, Sethi is focused on improving the team’s communication before their next game.
Overall, Sethi hopes this game will boost morale among the team. Following a difficult first half of the season, she wants the team to recognize that their effort has paid off and will succeed if they remain committed to working hard.
“Before this game, we were very demotivated by our losses,” Sethi said. “But right now, our biggest takeaway is to stay motivated and stay consistent, because that is what changed this game, and if we continue being consistent, then I think we can do really well in the future.”
