Palo Alto High School girls’ water polo team fell to Los Altos High School Friday night in the SCVAL Tournament quarterfinals, ending their run to play in Championship game.
The night before the Lady Vikes beat Wilcox 15-6 in the first round of the league tournament. With this momentum Paly looked to win their first game against Los Altos this season after losing to them 12-4 and 6-3 earlier on this year.
Both teams were prepared for a tough game.
“I was nervous to be honest,” Los Altos head coach Chris Love said. I didn’t know what was gonna happen. I made it a point of emphasis to make sure we were ready to play.”
Even though Paly had been preparing for the league tournament all season, they fell short. One factor contributing to their loss seemed to be a lack of mental preparation.
“I think we could have done a lot better,” Martine Leclerc (’13) said. “It wasn’t one of our best [games]. I think we went in over cocky about us beating Wilcox yesterday. We just weren’t in the right mindset. I think we definitely did [give up].”
Paly began the game off strong scoring the first goal of the game. However, the Lady Vikes immediately lost control of the game once Los Altos found the back of the net six more times by the end of the half. Paly eventually got one more goal in making the score 6-2 Lost Altos at half.
“We were pretty confident but once the second goal came in from Los Altos we lost our morale,”Martin said.
In addition, starting goal keeper, Eve Higgins (’12) was not playing in the game. Therefore, field player and back-up goalie Abby Bromberg stepped in for the last two games.
“I’m playing goalie because the team really needs me too and you know, I am here for them, to play goalie,” Bromberg said.
The team was extremely grateful for Bromberg’s willingness to step in goal. She made many challenging saves, hoping to keep her team in the game.
“[Bromberg] saved our butt this game,” Captain Skylar Dorisin (’12) said.
Unfortunately Paly could not get the ball in the net this game. Shot after shot, the Lady Vikes missed off target. Meanwhile Los Altos kept putting more in. Despite winning the third and fourth quarter sprints Los Altos lead by 7-2 at the end of the third quarter.
By the beginning of the fourth quarter, Paly desperately looked to score but missed multiple shots wide or over the goal.
With less than four minutes left in the game Dornin, took out his starting players including Captains Shannon Scheel (’12) and Skylar Dorisin (’12). He put in underclassman pulled up from JV to Varsity for the SCVAL tournament. Of these substitutes, Tess van Holsen (’15) scored the first goal for the Lady Vikes in the entire half.
“Playing with better players definetley makes a bigger impact on you,” Van Holsen said.
Even with Van Holsen’s goal the Vikings finished the game losing 9-3.
As for their last games of the season, including the SCVAL conselation game and the CCS tournament, Dornin looks to end the season on a good note.
“[We are looking to do] more of the same, put in the effort, [play] hard defense, and hopefully our shots will go in,” Dornin said.
The Lady Vikes next game will be November 5th at 4:40 p.m at Monte Vista High School against Los Gatos in the SCVAL concelation game.